As of midday on Friday, the new cases brings the total active cases in the Northern Grampians Shire to 10.

The six new COVID cases are split across two postcodes, with three in the 3380 postcode and three in the 3381 postcode.

There are four active COVID cases in the 3380 postcode and six in the 3381 postcode.

The confirmation of the new cases in the region comes after a number of educational facilities were notified they had had positive COVID cases in the last few days.

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The Stawell Secondary College notified the community it will be closed on Friday, November 19 after the confirmation of positive COVID cases at the school.

In an email to parents the school said they had been advised of five confirmed COVID-19 cases who attended the school on Friday November 12.

Health officials are identifying primary close contacts in the region, with those contacted asked to isolate and get tested.

In the region, Stawell Regional Health will be running a COVID testing clinic at the Stawell Aquatic Centre car park from:

For ongoing testing times and location please check the electronic COVID-19 testing sign at the hospital driveway entrance.

The Skene Street Specialist School has advised of a confirmed positive COVID case who attended the school recently.

In a message distributed to parents, guardians and students, the school said it is not required to close as cleaning and contact tracing identification has taken place.

They said the school has completed its contact tracing and all contacts have been notified.

The school said that if you have not been contacted by Thursday, November 18 to say your child has been identified as a primary close contact (PCC), your child should return to school to school on Friday, November 19.

If you are contacted and advised that you or your child is a potential PCC, it is advised that the potential PCC get a COVID PCR test and that the potential PCC limit their movements outside of the home.

This means that, until you hear further from me or the Department of Health or a Local Public Health Unit (DH/LPHU), you are advised to only leave home for brief periods for necessary activities, such as:

If your child is required to be tested, you may be able to access the $450 COVID-19 Test Isolation Payment. For more information refer to coronavirus.vic.gov.au

If you are concerned you have COVID-19 you can call the DH COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For school information in languages other than English, call TIS National on 131 450. Please ask them to call the DET COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret. For health advice in languages other than English, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19

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