Colds are not caused by cold temperature, they are caused by viruses. Some people get more sick than others from COVID-19 and FLU infection because of their immunity. The symptoms of Covid, Cold and Flu can be similar. It is difficult to know tell the difference. Seasonal allergies including hay fever also have similar symptoms. The best way to tell is to take a test like a RAT. To learn more about their symptoms.
The risk factors for Covid and flu are different. With COVID, the biggest risk factors are: advancing age, unimmunised, heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease (smokers), obesity, weakened immune systems or cancer. With influenza, the biggest risk factors are: Older people, heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease (smokers), young children, pregnant people, weakened immune systems or cancer
Virus is spread from droplets from the nose and mouth from coughs and sneezes. Droplets that land on surfaces like handrails, tables and chairs can spread the virus if people touch them and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes. Droplets from coughs and sneezes that leave your nose or mouth fall to the ground about 1.5 meters away from you. This is why you may be told to stand 1.5 meters away from others to reduce your risk of infection. COVID-19 can sometimes be spread through the air when an infected person breathes out.
Once you are feeling better and recovered after catching COVID-19, go and get a booster vaccination. COVID-19 Vaccination and Flu Vaccination can be taken at the same time. Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations reduce the risk of severe illness. 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduce the chance of death from virus infection. You should seek medical care when you have symptoms of concern and if you have existing conditions that increase the risk.
How to reduce the chance of infection to yourself and others:
Get vaccinated
Practice social distancing – 1.5m away from others
Wash your hands
Wear a mask
Indoor ventilation by opening windows, doors, fans, and air purifiers
Minimise contact with others (avoiding crowds)
Stay home when you have symptoms!
Test & seek treatment if risk factors
ANZAC Day – 25 April is a good time to get your Flu vaccination every year before Flu season. At this time the vaccination is available and it is before there is a lot of flu in the community.
Available Services
Your GP
DPV Health Respiratory Clinics can help you with early symptoms and recovery. The clinics are available to people of all ages including children.
DPV Health wishes our patients and their families a safe and prosperous holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Holiday Opening Hours
Broadmeadows
Tuesday December 24 (Christmas Eve): 8am – 1pm
Wednesday December 25 (Christmas Day): Closed
Thursday December 26 (Boxing Day): Closed
Wednesday January 1 (New Years Day): Closed
Mill Park
Tuesday December 24 (Christmas Eve): 8:30am – 1pm
Wednesday December 25 (Christmas Day): Closed
Thursday December 26 (Boxing Day): Closed
Friday December 27: 8:30am – 1pm
Monday December 30: 8:30am – 1pm
Tuesday December 31: 8:30am – 1pm
Wednesday January 1: (New Years Day): Closed
Dental
All dental clinic sites at Broadmeadows, Epping, Craigieburn and Whittlesea will operate as per normal hours up to Friday 20th December. Find more information here.
From 23rd December to 24th December, only our Epping site will be operational. It will provide emergency care only for all DPV Health Clients. The Dental service will re open for normal business at all sites as of 2nd January 2020
It’s been a busy year for DPV Health.
We celebrated our first birthday following the merger of Plenty Valley Community Health and Dianella Health. This merger has enabled the expansion of programs into sites where they were not previously offered. Paediatric services moved into Whittlesea, NDIS programs and Adult Speech Therapy services into Hume, and much more. It has been a big achievement throughout the organisation, and we appreciate your support and goodwill.
When considering 2020, the future looks bright. With more than 100 initiatives planned, expanded opening hours planned for both Broadmeadows and Mill Park Medical Centres, and a highly engaged team working across 20 locations, please join us for the benefits of first-class healthcare in your neighbourhood.
Please check our medical and dental clinic opening hours above. For information on our regular hours, visit our Medical page here.
The Department of Health and Human Services operates a heat health alert system. The system is used to notify the department’s program areas, hospitals, health and community service providers, local councils and the general public via email about forecasted extreme heat conditions which are likely to impact human health. The heat health alert system operates annually between December to the end of February, but can be extended to responded to forecasting.
The Chief Health Officer issues a heat health alert when mean temperatures are predicted to reach or exceed heat health thresholds. The department recommends that you continue to monitor local conditions and act in line with your heat, business continuity and occupational health and safety (OH&S) plans.
Weather forecast districts
The heat health alert system uses the Bureau of Meteorology weather forecast districts and boundaries.
Heat health temperature thresholds
Temperature thresholds have been identified for Victoria, above which heat-related illness and mortality increases substantially.
These thresholds differ across the state in recognition of the higher daily average temperatures experienced in northern parts of Victoria.
The decision to issue an alert
The department monitors the Bureau of Meteorology forecast daily minimum and maximum temperatures and calculates the daily average temperature for each weather forecast district.
The average temperature for any given day is the average of the forecasted daily maximum temperature and the forecasted overnight temperature (which is also the daily minimum for the following day).
When forecast daily average temperatures are predicted to reach or exceed the heat health temperature threshold for any weather forecast district the department issues heat health alerts for that weather forecast district.
Heat health alerts
Heat health alerts are issued via the department’s email subscription service. To subscribe to receive heat health alerts and other emergency advice from the department go to: www.health.vic.gov.au/subscribe
The department recommends that you follow your organisational heat plans, once a heat health alert is issued. People in the general community should be encouraged to prepare for extreme heat to protect themselves and those in their care from the impact of extreme heat, particularly those most at risk.
The department may also consider other factors that may influence vulnerability, such as very high maximum or minimum temperatures and high temperatures over a prolonged consecutive period. High temperature alerts may be issued in these circumstances even if the average temperature threshold is not exceeded. Prolonged high temperatures below threshold levels can still impact on health.
Where possible, heat health alerts will be issued 2-3 days prior to forecast extreme heat conditions providing alert recipients with an early warning. Even though the department will be monitoring forecast temperatures across the state, it is important for local councils and other organisations to continue to monitor local weather conditions. It may be necessary for local councils to activate heat plans in the absence of a heat health alert being issued.
Arranging a consultation with one of our doctors online is quick and easy.
You can book an available time convenient to you to visit a doctor at our state-of-the-art medical centres in Broadmeadows or Mill Park or via Telehealth – Phone & Video Appointments.