Chadstone worker tests positive as three more Victorians die of coronavirus and 374 new cases recorded
Six Victorian prisons are now in lockdown after a prison guard tested positive for COVID-19. It comes as Victoria recorded 374 new cases and three elderly women died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
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Three more Victorians have died of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, as the state records 374 new cases.
The spike marks one of the biggest daily surges since the pandemic began and brings Victoria’s total cases to 6289.
The three most recent deaths were all women aged in their 80s, 90s and one over 100.
PRISON GUARD TESTS POSITIVE
Six Victorian prisons have gone into lockdown after a prison guard tested positive for COVID-19.
The GEO Australia prison officer tested positive after working at the state’s largest jail, the Ravenhall Correctional Centre.
The Department of Health and Human Services has been notified and contact tracing is currently underway, with impacted staff and prisoners being notified.
Prisoners who may have had contact with the guard have been placed in quarantine and a deep clean of the prison is underway.
As well as Ravenhall, prisons including the Hopkins Correctional Centre, Langi Kal Kal, Barwon Prison, Fulham and Loddon are all in lockdown.
Ravenhall, which has a capacity of 1300 prisoners, is the third Victorian jail to be exposed to COVID-19.
A prisoner who was transferred between Melbourne Assessment Prison and the Metropolitan Remand Centre after being tested for coronavirus returned a positive result on Friday.
Since March prisoners entering the system have been quarantined to reduce the risk of the virus being spread among the prison population.
There are fears once the virus enters prisons, it could spiral out of control.
Under corrections law, prisoners can claim up to four days off their sentence for each day spent in isolation.
Usually prisoners apply for the Emergency Management Days if their routine is severely disrupted due to lockdowns.
However EMDs will be automatically applied to prisoner sentences during the COVID-19 crisis, unless they misbehave.
A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson said the staff member had been self-isolating since July 16 after being notified they were a close contact of a postive case.
“Measures are being taken in line with Corrections Victoria’s coronavirus (COVID-19) management plans, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, to limit the potential spread of the virus and keep staff and prisoners safe,” she said.
“Precautionary measures include thorough cleaning, contact tracing and lockdown procedures.”
Barrister Greg Barns, the criminal justice spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said the positive test was a “potentital catastrophe”.
“The need to release selected prisoners is even more urgent now,” he said.
“People in prison are at extreme risk of contracting the virus simply because they are detained. In our overcrowded prison system social distancing is impossible and lockdowns create an increasingly intolerable and unstable environment.
“Lockdowns means solitary confinement and no programs, and an increased risk of mental harm.”
Mr Barns said protecting public health had to be the first priority.
“Non-violent prisoners, prisoners who are on remand simply because they have no home address, and vulnerable prisoners such as those over 65 should be released now. In fact, the Victorian government should already have done this,” he said.
- Shannon Deery
DAVID JONES CHADSTONE WORKER TESTS POSITIVE
A David Jones staff member has tested positive for coronavirus after working at the chain’s Chadstone store.
The store will temporarily close to undergo a deep clean and contact tracing of those affected.
The infected employee last worked onsite on July 13.
“Our foremost priority remains the health and safety of our team members and customers,” a David Jones spokesman said in a statement.
“As a result, our Chadstone store will be closed while an extensive deep clean and contact tracing is completed in strict accordance with all health authority guidelines.”
‘TOO EARLY’ TO DISCUSS HARSHER LOCKDOWN: ANDREWS
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was too soon to discuss tighter restrictions, with more time needed to see the impact of the reimposed lockdown.
“Tomorrow does mark the first two-week period of a six-week lockdown … a couple of points we have made consistently — things will need to get worse before they got better.
“Then there will need to be a period of relative stability and then until you achieve that, any reduction wouldn’t be meaningful.
“It could be a day, it could be two days even when we had numbers fall but only to spike up again. So it’s too early for us to be talking about next steps.”
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has repeatedly said case numbers would have to stabilise or fall to avoid further restrictions.
Prof Sutton had earmarked Wednesday as a key day, being two weeks after the current restrictions came into force, on which to assess potential next steps.
However, it is understood further restrictions, other than the requirement to wear masks that takes affect from Wednesday night, are unlikely this week.
LOCKDOWN IMPACTING VIRUS SPREAD: SUTTON
Prof Sutton said despite the big figure on Tuesday, “there has been some levelling in the last four or five days.”
“I know the day-to-day changes can be substantial but the modelling of a couple of weeks ago, if we had been on a exponential curve which is what happens with the coronavirus, we would have been at thousands of cases at this point in time.
“We are not, we are at 374. I’m not satisfied with that but it’s much better than 3000.”
Mr Andrews, echoed those sentiments, sayings the reimposed lockdown had helped prevent a much greater virus tally.
“It’s always challenging to analyse any one day’s results. You’d like to see numbers coming down. At the end of the day, we’re not seeing the doubling and doubling again.
“So what that says to me … is that the sorts of measures we have put in place are having a direct impact.”
Authorities will consider additional restrictions in regional Victoria if community transmissions spike.
Mr Andrews said close to 2100 workers were in the expanding contact tracing team, which included a small number of military support, significant numbers of off-roster Ambulance Victoria staff and some private sector staffers.
‘MASKS ARE LIKE SPEED LIMITS’
Mr Andrews said he was confident there would be a high take up when masks become compulsory in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from midnight Wednesday.
But he took aim at any Melburnians unwilling to wear masks, saying the new rules should be followed to protect those on the frontline.
“Nurses and doctors who finish up treating you wear masks.
“Let’s thank them for their commitment by wearing a mask as we get around out and about for the four lawful reasons only when we need to be out.
“The best way to thank them is not finish up one of their patients, be putting them at risk, putting pressure on the public and private hospital systems as well.”
Prof Sutton likened wearing a mask to obeying the speed limit when driving.
“Masks are to coronavirus a bit like speed limits are to our road toll. They protect you, they protect those around you.
“I don’t know that there are many who would argue that we shouldn’t have speed limits on the roads because of the importance in protecting everyone in that setting.
“I think it really is the same for masks, it’s a small sacrifice that we make, it’s a small constraint on our liberties if you like. But it’s a really important one because there is no greater loss of liberty than the loss of your life.”
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MANDATORY MASK RULES
ADF CRITICAL TO QUASHING SECOND WAVE: PM
Victoria’s second wave of cases has presented the most complex challenge of the entire pandemic in Australia, according to Scott Morrison.
The Prime Minister said Australian Defence Force assistance was critical in dealing with the “complexity” and bringing the situation under control.
He said the head of Defence efforts in Victoria would be recommending personnel should be deployed to assist with contract tracing like they were in NSW.
Mr Morrison said the ADF was working with Victorian authorities and making recommendations to them but were not in charge of the situation.
“The ADF are not running these programs in Victoria,” Mr Morrison said.
“That is the responsibility of the Victorian Government.
“Their (the ADF’s) role is to advise, assist and support.”
Mr Morrison said he had “every confidence” Daniel Andrews would take the advice of the ADF and accept assistance with contact tracing given the scale of the problem.
“I would have no reason to think that the Victorian Government would stand in the way of that sort of support,” Mr Morrison said.
“It is an open account they have with us and they’ve been very appreciative.
“We’re still very much in the hard part of this fight, as you can see from the daily case numbers. I’m not expecting that to change a lot in the short term. And we just need to keep working the problem.”
– Tamsin Rose
RULE-BREAKERS UNDETERRED BY HEFTY FINES
Victoria Police issued $120,000 in fines to rule breakers in the past 24 hours.
Seventy-three people were hit with $1652 fines for breaching lockdown restrictions amid the huge rise in new cases.
Twelve fines were issued to people at vehicle checkpoints.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said there were numerous incidents of people being fined for hosting gatherings at their homes.
- Aneeka Simonis
VIRUS FEARS IN EAST GIPPSLAND
Businesses have closed in East Gippsland and locals are being told to get tested after a woman from Melbourne visited the area before testing positive for coronavirus.
It has been confirmed at least four businesses in Orbost and Marlo in Victoria’s east were undergoing precautionary cleaning over fears the woman had attended their venues in recent days.
Orbost Chamber of Commerce Garry Squires said business had not been contacted by authorities, but had been told about the cases through the local grapevine and were undergoing cleaning as a precautionary measure.
“It is very worrying,’’ he said.
“We don’t know what to do so businesses have closed their doors.
“We have ha no official confirmation but the businesses want to do the right thing.”
Nationals MP Tim Bull said he had contacted local authorities and it had been confirmed a woman, who was a former resident, had visited from a metropolitan area before returning a positive test this week.
It is understood the woman had travelled to attend a wake and was not aware she was infected.
“It’s incredibly foolish,” Mr Bull said.
“I’ve spoken to the police and it’s real,” he said.
“While it’s incredible disappointing the reality of it is that it has occurred and as a community we are encoring everybody that may have been to the location, or known somebody, to be test and be vigilant.
“We have an ageing population in East Gippsland and we certainly hope we get through this without any further cases.”
Premier Daniel Andrews warned “if you are waiting for the results of the test or if you have got a positive result, or a close contact then you need to follow the rules, stay at home”.
“We need to know more about this case but ultimately travelling from one side of the state to the other while you’re waiting for a result is not ideal.”
– Alex White
RUSH ON MASKS
With mandatory masks looming for lockdown areas, Melbourne shops are slapping limits on how many customers can buy.
Authorities also put opportunistic businesses on notice over price gouging.
The restrictions come as some shops report sales increases of up to 30-fold, while there has also been a rush on fabric and sewing machines as people resort to making masks.
Bunnings has restricted masks to 50 a customer, Woolworths is only allowing one pack per person and Aldi has a two-pack limit.
“Customers will be able to purchase a maximum of two packs per person, to ensure a fair distribution of product,” an Aldi spokeswoman said.
Woolworths said it was monitoring the situation closely.
“Tens of thousands of boxes of masks will continue to head in to Woolworths stores across Victoria this week and more will flow through the following week, with a priority focus on hotspot areas,” the supermarket chain said.
A Priceline spokeswoman said the chain’s Melbourne pharmacies had experienced a “30-fold increase” in sales compared with last week.
Spotlight said sewing machines and fabric were being “replenished regularly” while fabric shops reported queues out the door yesterday.
Thornbury fashion shop Nobody Denim has started mass producing masks.
Director and co-founder John Condilis said he restructured his denim factory last week to start making the masks and hoped to make up to 15,000 a day.
Mr Condilis said when the pandemic began, he started experimenting with PPE prototypes. The company then offered to help produce masks for the Victorian government.
“There was no real necessity for PPE when we started our prototypes, but that changed a couple of weeks ago so we put our hand up to help out,” Mr Condilis said.
HOW NEW MASK RULE SPARKED UNLIKELY TREND
The masks will not be for retail sale, but will be distributed by the state government.
Premier Daniel Andrews urged businesses to do the right thing amid reports of price gouging.
“I would encourage everybody to do the right thing and acknowledge this is no time to be profiting from the pain of others,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the government had ordered more than two million multi-use masks.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said a business could not make misleading claims about reasons for price increases, and if they did they would be breaching consumer law.
But the ACCC is relatively powerless to stop price gouging.
“In some limited circumstance excessive pricing may be unconscionable where it is extreme and targets particularly vulnerable consumers,” she said.
“It may be a supply and demand thing. We did see when the first wave happened, with hand sanitiser the wholesalers were increasing their prices and that flowed through to the retailers.”
ANOTHER SCHOOL CLOSES, STUDENTS PREPARE FOR MASKS
Manor Lakes P-12 College in Wyndham Vale has closed due to a positive COVID-19 case at the school.
Parents were notified late on Monday night that all sections of the learning facility — including secondary, primary, childcare and supported – will be closed on Tuesday until further notice.
“While we know this is late notice, and some may not receive this information on time, we will be onsite in the morning to assist families of P-10 onsite attendance students,” the message said.
It means all students at the school will move to remote learning.
More than a million face masks will be issued to students over coming days as schoolyards prepare for a very different look.
From Thursday, face masks will be mandatory for all students aged over 12 in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
Although most Victorian students began term three learning from home on Monday, a dozen schools have already been closed for cleaning and further investigation after they were linked to coronavirus cases.
Education Minister James Merlino said schools would be given priority in the state’s mass face mask orders, and 1.37 million reusable masks have been ordered for students to be delivered in July and August.
In coming days, 1.2 million single-use masks will also be distributed to schools, though Mr Merlino said most families were expected to provide their own face coverings.
“From Thursday our community will look different with the mandatory use of masks,” Mr Merlino said.
“Students may also choose to wear bandannas and scarfs to school so schools will be an interesting place from Thursday in terms of what students are wearing.
“We already have 1.2 million single use masks and we will be distributing those to all government schools in Melbourne metro and Mitchell Shire over the coming couple of days and we will also be providing these single-use masks for our Catholic and independent schools.”
It will not be compulsory for teachers to wear masks during lessons, but face coverings will be mandatory outside the classroom, including in staffrooms. Specialist and primary schools are also exempt from the mask measures.
Students at a school in Melbourne’s outer-east are making their own masks as the protective gear becomes highly sought-after.
The secondary students at Melba College in Croydon made the fabric masks during textile class on Monday.
More than 700,000 Victorian students and their families returned to remote learning on Monday, with only VCE and with special needs students attending school.
But that has not stopped schools across Melbourne and Geelong having to be closed due to COVID-19 cases.
Among those undergoing deep cleaning is Toorak Primary School, which is closed for the second time after becoming one of the first to record a positive test in the state when it closed on March 17.
Two Geelong schools are outside the stage three restrictions now in place for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire — Grovedale West Primary School and Drysdale Primary School — were also closed for cleaning.
The other schools closed were Charles La Trobe College; Roxburgh College; Overport Primary School; Princes Hill Secondary College; Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College; Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School; Trinity College Colac; Parkville College’s Malmsbury Campus; and Leibler Yavneh College.
CHILD AND TWO DAYCARE STAFF TEST POSITIVE
A child and two staff members at a Port Melbourne childcare centre have tested positive for coronavirus.
The Ada Mary A’Beckett Children’s Centre has been shut down “until further notice” after the cases were confirmed on July 21.
In a statement, management of the Cumberland Rd centre said they were “taking direction from the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure all response protocols and procedures are correctly implemented and followed”.
“This includes a professional deep clean of the facility and full co-operation with the contract-trace process which is now under way.”
It comes as five new active cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Port Phillip overnight to Monday, July 20, bringing the total number to 32.
READ THE FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY, HERE
RESIDENTS FORCED TO REAPPLY FOR PERMITS AT NSW BORDER
Bordertown residents looking to enter New South Wales from Victoria will be forced to reapply for their travel permit with a new border zone to be set up along the Murray River from midnight on Tuesday.
Travel permits will be cancelled and the criteria for those looking to travel between the two states will also be tightened.
Residents will only be allowed to cross the border for work, education or to access medical care, supplies or health services, which will make it more difficult for people to obtain a permit.
“We’re strengthening the rules so the fewer people granted permits to enter NSW must now carry a copy of their permit and produce it when directed by enforcement officers,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
The record cases of COVID-19 in Victoria has forced the NSW Government to further restrict entry to the state from Victoria, prompting the decision to erect the border zone.
READ THE FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY, HERE
STUDY VISAS FAST-TRACKED
Overseas students will now be able to lodge applications for visas to study in Australia in a bid to kickstart the international education sector once the borders eventually reopen.
The federal government is also tweaking visa rules for international students who are already enrolled in Australia, with about 87,000 students currently remaining overseas.
Education Minister Dan Tehan said the government wanted to be ready to “to welcome back international students in a COVID-safe way once state borders re-open and face-to-face learning resumes”.
“As well as supporting jobs, international education builds our connection to the rest of the world and supports a number of critical industries like health, aged and disability care,” he said.
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