How a tiny Victorian town 'nailed' the coronavirus crisis after an alarming outbreak - by using their own clever plan before state went into lockdown
- Colac in regional Victoria has halved active COVID-19 cases in only ten days
- An outbreak at an abattoir resulted in 100 infections in the town of 12,000
- A social media campaign used local heroes to promote public health messages
- The town now only has 35 active cases as a result of community outreach
A town in regional Victoria linked to a catastrophic COVID-19 outbreak has brought the spread under control through an unlikely community campaign.
Colac, in regional Victoria, had a surge of coronavirus cases after a spate of infections at the Australian Lamb Company abattoir last month.
But the town of 12,000 residents has more than halved its active cases from 80 to only 36 in ten days through a localised social media campaign.
Videos and public health messages were released using local community members under the hashtag 'Keep Colac Safe'
Instead of using politicians and health officials videos featured teachers, school captains, local nurses, football coaches and business owners to spread the important message
Videos and public health messages were released using local community members under the hashtag 'Keep Colac Safe'.
Instead of using politicians and health officials videos featured teachers, school captains, local nurses, football coaches and business owners to spread the important message.
The videos were circulated on social media pages like YouTube and Facebook to reach the community and urge them to socially distance and practice good hygiene.
In one video, a young man reveals the reason he is worried about the implications of the virus spreading through the local community.
Sarah, a nurse from Colac Area Health (pictured) features several times to share her own story of how she's treating the stay at home directives
Star Alvie footballer and cricketer Andre DeLorenzo also featured as one of the local heroes spreading the importance of social distancing and good hygiene
Colac Mayor Jason Schram said the message was so effective because it was from locals
'I'm concerned about it. My brother has got cystic fibrosis. If he gets it, it's pretty bad I think,' he says.
A nurse from Colac Area Health features in the video several times to share her own story of how she's treating the stay at home directives.
'Our grandparents live just up the road, and we have been seeing them at a distance. The community loves to rally around when we need help... and that's what we're about here in Colac and I think we can absolutely get through this' she says.
Colac Mayor Jason Schram said the message was so effective because it was from locals.
Colac, in regional Victoria had a surge of coronavirus cases after a spate of infections at the Australian Lamb Company abbatoir last month
'We had your everyday people who people recognise and are respected and trusted within the community,' Cr Schram told Yahoonews Australia.
'The message wasn't coming from government sources, it was coming from people within the community who people trust.'
He said regional communities have a sense of camaraderie that big cities lack.
'It's not a case of everyone knowing everyone's business, but everyone is in it together and you have to support yourselves out here in these small communities and you rely on each other to help each other out.'
He said the town had 'pretty much nailed' the coronavirus, but it was important people continue to stay vigilant.
The town was hit with COVID-19 after two cases were detected on July 19, surging to 92 active cases on August 6.
A pop up testing clinic (pictured) was set up at Colac after the outbreak at the Australian Lamb Company abattoir
