Six new infections as investigation into testing centre case continues

An apartment complex in Hawthorn has been plunged into lockdown just hours after a concerning find in a nearby suburb.

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Victoria has recorded six new locally acquired Covid-19 cases as the state enjoys its second day of freedom after a fifth lockdown.

The health department confirmed seven new local cases about 8.30am on Thursday, but one – a mystery case – had been announced on Wednesday.

The health department said all new cases, bar the mystery infection, were linked to existing outbreaks and all except one were in isolation for their entire infectious period.

Four of the latest cases are students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, who only returned a positive result on their day 13 test.

The remaining two are household contacts linked to the Lacrosse apartments in Docklands.

Sewage testing at the apartments revealed unexpected Covid detection, which resulted in additional testing that uncovered the fresh cases.

More than 500 residents in the Lacrosse apartments remain in isolation.

Meanwhile, a number of household and social contacts of the infected mystery case have already returned negative tests.

The man, who is a traffic controller at a Moonee Ponds testing site, visited his partner in Newport while infectious.

The Moonee Valley racecourse testing has closed after a worker tested positive. Picture: David Crosling

Testing at the Newport apartment block is under way.

Health authorities are still trying to trace how the man working at the Moonee Ponds testing site acquired Covid-19, with the site a key area of focus.

The man, in his 20s, developed symptoms on Monday, was tested on Tuesday and returned a positive result on Wednesday morning.

But contact tracers haven’t yet been able to determine where the man caught the virus or epidemiologically link the case to current outbreaks.

They will scour records to determine if a known case was recently swabbed at the site, possibly infecting the man as they waited for a test.

On Wednesday, chief health officer Brett Sutton said the risk to individuals who came through in their cars was “extremely low” given most wouldn’t have wound down their window to speak to traffic controllers.

“(But) as we said (on Tuesday), it’s not over, there will be ongoing risks and … ongoing potential for incursion into Victoria, so it is not like any of us need to let our guard down.”

Six new Tier 2 exposure sites – in Frankston, Yarraville and Altona North – were added on Wednesday afternoon, including the Borrock Square Woolworths and the Karingal Hub shopping centre on July 24.

The Moonee Valley testing site closed for a deep clean on Wednesday, but the Health Department revealed it would likely reopen on Thursday.

Health Minister Martin Foley said “normal risk assessments” would occur, so testing staff would likely be deemed primary close contacts and forced into 14 days’ quarantine.

When asked about the likelihood of the case being a “false positive”, Mr Foley said PCR tests were “the gold standard”.

Premier Daniel Andrews said genomic sequencing — due to return on Thursday — would provide some indication about where transmission occurred.

Detailed interviews with the man took place late into Wednesday night, with contact tracers confident they had a grip on the case.

“We’re well and truly around it. It’s just a matter of chasing down all of the leads,” Mr Andrews said.

The Premier said it was always concerning “whenever you’ve got an unlinked case”.

But he added: “We will get our arms around this”.

HAWTHORN APARTMENTS IN LOCKDOWN

Part of an apartment complex in Hawthorn has been plunged into a 14-day quarantine, after a risk assessment determined the site posed a high risk.

A positive case attended the Balmoral Apartment Complex, located at 190 Riversdale Rd, in Hawthorn, between 12:00am and 11:59pm on Monday July 19.

Out of an abundance of caution, a high risk section of the complex has been designated a Tier 1 site by the Department of Health.

Residents exposed to that area will be required to quarantine for 14 days. The remainder of the building has been designated as a Tier 2 site.

The Herald Sun has sought clarification as to whether residents will be required to quarantine for two weeks from today, or from the exposure period.

The Department of Health’s resident support service is operating at the apartment complex to ensure residents are receiving the assistance they require.

Residents in this Newport apartment block were told to ‘stay put’. Picture: Ian Currie

Acting chief health officer Professor Ben Cowie said Victoria’s recent outbreak highlighted the need to get vaccinated.

“Today’s cases remind us that Covid-19 cases are still very much in the community,” Prof Cowie said.

“We’ve seen this virus transmitted within households, in restaurants and in sports stadiums. And that’s why it’s so important to follow the restrictions that are now in place.

“You can’t visit other people in their homes. The Delta variant has already spread within households, and it appears the attack rate within households is actually higher than what we have previously seen.”

It comes as people in Camberwell were put on high alert after wastewater detections in the area.

The health department said the detection could be due to someone who had Covid-19 but was no longer infectious and continued to shed the virus – or it could be due to an active but undiagnosed case in that area.

Camberwell residents with even the mildest of symptoms are being urged to get tested.

Meanwhile, the Royal Children’s Hospital launched a real-time online traffic light system to warn parents of expected wait times at its two Covid testing clinics.

It is the same system used successfully in the hospital’s emergency department.

NSW INFECTIONS SPIKE, TWO MORE DEATHS

NSW recorded 239 new infections overnight — a new record — and two more Covid-related deaths. Just 81 of the new cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “Regrettably, we also had quite a large increase in the number of cases overnight … we can only assume that things are likely to get worse before they get better, given the quantity of people infectious in the community”.

Read the full story here

Beachgoers at Bondi on Wednesday, despite the city’s growing outbreak. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

AMBITIOUS MELB CUP CROWD PLAN

A crowd of up to 60,000 could pack Flemington Racecourse each day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival under a Victoria Racing Club plan, ­despite coronavirus casting a cloud over major events.

Major Events Minister Martin Pakula on Wednesday flagged a possible event insurance scheme to cover Covid cancellations later this year, hours before the Royal Melbourne Show was cancelled for a second straight year.

Coronavirus clusters at the MCG and AAMI Park, where spectators were infected as they queued outside, have raised concerns about crowds at sport and major events until a big portion of the population is fully vaccinated.

The fate of the AFL grand final remains uncertain and fans are not expected at footy games in Melbourne for ­another fortnight.

But after writing to members this week, the VRC signalled it remained optimistic about the size of the Melbourne Cup crowd.

A crowd of up to 60,000 could pack Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup day.

The message, sent as part of a pitch to renew subscriptions, raised eyebrows among members concerned about paying full price for events that may not allow crowds.

VRC chief Steve Rosich said Flemington was “planning to safely host up to 60,000 patrons across multiple zones at Flemington Racecourse on each day of the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival”.

He said the VRC would be guided by “Racing Victoria and government policy” when considering vaccine passports.

Melbourne’s “night mayor” James Young said the passport was the only ticket to an AFL grand final and Melbourne Cup Carnival with crowds.

“I would like to think the Victorian government has a secret target of getting tens of thousands of people to attend a huge gambling and fashion event, and bring in a vaccine passport for spring racing,” Mr Young said.

A huge crowd watches the 2019 Melbourne Cup.

Empty stands at Flemington Racecourse during the 2020 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Alex Coppel

“More optimistically, we need vaccine passports for an AFL grand final at the MCG. If we don’t have that rule, the grand final won’t happen here, and I want it back in Melbourne.”

Asked about the events industry on Wednesday, Mr Pakula said the last coronavirus outbreak had shown the need for caution.

He also flagged the possibility of an insurance scheme when events were cancelled.

“We’ve been working on an insurance concept for a little while now,” Mr Pakula said.

“It’s very complex. It’s not easy to get a product into market and its not easy for event companies or event businesses to obtain insurance either for cancellation or reduction in density.”

Workers at Flinders St station on Wednesday, after lockdown lifted. Picture: AFP

SCHOOL SPORT TO RETURN

Inter-school sport will return this week following a backflip from the Education Department.

Rules changed on Wednesday night to allow for sporting matches between schools with a density limit of one person per 4sq m.

There must also be strict record keeping and a maximum of 100 people per indoor space and 300 outside.

The rules do not allow large school gatherings such as ceremonies, assemblies and school formals.

Excursions are allowed, but only with students from a single school. Camps and overnight stays can take place as long as they are limited to single schools and adhere to travel restrictions.

There will be no temperature checks but face masks will be worn indoors and outdoors for all students over the age of 12.

Face masks do not have to be worn during school sport.

Schools are also encouraged to increase ventilation to indoor spaces and maximise outdoor learning where possible.

The rules also allow teachers to attend vaccination appointments and for the recommencement of before and after school care.

Schools are also required to reduce the mixing between groups of students, with staggered start and finish times as well as staggered lunch breaks. Staff will also be required to minimise working across different sites were possible.

The new rules for the return to school this week also allow singing, brass and woodwind classes and groups as long as there is 2m between performers.

Pools can be used but there will be no kindergarten or year 7 transition, incursions, photos, non-essential visitors or community groups using school facilities during school hours.

People out and about in Melbourne’s CBD post-lockdown. Picture: Jason Edwards

INDONESIAN REPATRIATION FLIGHT PLAN

Qantas is aiming to line up a repatriation flight for “vulnerable” Australians stranded in Indonesia as the country records more than 2000 daily Covid-19 deaths.

About 780 Australians, including citizens and permanent residents, in Indonesia are registered as wanting to return with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“We are working with Qantas on an option for a facilitated commercial flight for vulnerable Australians departing from Indonesia.

“The government is looking at all available options to assist vulnerable Australians in Indonesia to return,” a DFAT spokesman said.

Australians can no longer transit through Singapore because the country has closed the route to Indonesia amid surging infections.

On Tuesday, Indonesia recorded 2069 deaths. There have been 86,835 Covid-related deaths in the country. More than half of the recent deaths have come from the provinces of Central Java, East Java and West Java, as the pandemic showed signs of decline in the previous epicentre of Jakarta.

Since the start of the pandemic, the government has facilitated 154 flights on which more than 23,000 Australians have returned.

“We have provided various types of assistance to many more Australians, including to return via commercial means”, the DFAT spokesman said.