Geelong records 11 new Covid cases as outbreak closes Covenant College

A Bell Post Hill school has joined the list of 25 Geelong schools hit by Covid outbreaks, with the region’s active cases for those aged 19-and-under sitting at more than 150 people.

A Bell Post Hill school has closed due to a Covid outbreak.

Health department data published Wednesday showed the outbreak at Covenant College had 20 active cases.

Principal Sue Cox said Barwon Health advised that as the school continues to encounter Covid-19 transmission, its junior and middle schools were directed to close for a week from Wednesday.

“In this current context, we have decided to also close the kindergarten and the senior school for the same period,” Ms Cox said.

Covenant College in Bell Post Hill.

Unit three and four VCE exams will continue.

Ms Cox said transmission had occurred on campus, but also between students and connections in off-campus and non-school settings.

“We are moving to remote learning for all our students during this school closure period,” she said.

“We have amazing parents and staff who have worked with us as we have juggled onsite and offsite learning for students during this time.”

The school has more than 760 students.

Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said a number of positive cases have been detected across 25 schools in the region.

“Our contact tracing team are currently working with local schools and the Department of Education to support a number of schools that have confirmed positive cases,” Prof Athan said.

“Our objective is to keep schools open and minimise impact on local schoolchildren.

“Out of the 391 actives cases in the Barwon South West region, 171 are aged 19 and

under.

“As Covid-19 cases rise in our region’s education settings, we urge all parents to

protect themselves with vaccination, as well as their eligible children as soon as possible.”

An outbreak associated with domestic freight vessel Siem Aquamarine had 10 active cases.

“Last week our public health unit team were supporting the Department of Health to provide assistance with testing after positive cases were detected among a ship’s domestic crew at Geelong’s port,” Prof Athan said.

“All crew members have been tested and are in quarantine.”

A GeelongPort spokeswoman confirmed it was aware of positive cases linked to the Siem Aquamarine, a vessel that regularly operates from Corio Quay but was not currently at berth.

“The Department of Health and Barwon Health are continuing to manage the situation,” the spokeswoman said.

“We can confirm no GeelongPort employees are currently in isolation.”

Eleven new cases were reported for Greater Geelong on Wednesday.

The Surf Coast reported one new case.

Victoria reported 1003 new cases and 14 deaths among people with Covid.

Originally published as Geelong records 11 new Covid cases as outbreak closes Covenant College