Pakenham Springs Primary School closed after students test positive to COVID-19
A virus outbreak in a Coburg family has closed two primary schools as a second Black Lives Matter protester tests positive to COVID-19. The new cases were among 12 recorded in Victoria yesterday.
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Two schools have today shut after four students linked to one family tested positive to coronavirus.
A second Black Lives Matter protester, a young woman, was also among Victoria’s 12 new cases yesterday.
Victoria’s Chief Heath Officer, Professor Brett Sutton said it was “unlikely” she had contracted the virus at the protest.
Two students are from Pakenham Springs Primary School and two students are from St Dominic’s Primary School in Broadmeadows.
Both schools have been closed for cleaning and close contacts, including classmates and teachers, have been told to self isolate for 14 days.
The four children and three other new cases are all linked to an outbreak from one family from Coburg.
A total of 11 family members from that cluster have now tested positive to the virus.
Prof Sutton said the seven people connected to the Coburg family were all extended family members who had gathered together recently.
“The family is very large... they’ve had gatherings across different households as many of us do now,” Prof Sutton said.
“The cases there are across different households in Coburg, Pakenham and Broadmeadows.
“(It’s) no fault of that family.
“I guess for all of us across Victoria it’s still a lesson that if any of us are unwell, if any of our kids are unwell even with mild symptoms then we need to exclude them from seeing others - including scheduled gathering for dinners or celebrations.”
PAKENHAM PARENTS PANIC OVER VIRUS CASES
Pakenham Springs Primary School acting principal Renee Cotterell said: “Students and staff who have attended the school are required to remain at home while contact tracing occurs.”
Pakenham Springs is 60km southeast of Melbourne on Livingstone Blvd.
Dozens of angry parents have taken to Facebook to express concerns after two students tested positive for coronavirus.
“I’m so angry that’s in Pakenham now. They need to release the locations of where this family have been,” one parent said.
“The entire school, teachers and parents all should be made to quarantine for 14 days,” she said.
Another parent said: “We have kids there, very worrying and stressful, hopefully we hear more tomorrow”.
The news comes as restrictions are further eased across the state from next Monday, with Victorians able to get on the beers without ordering a meal, restaurants and cafes will be able to welcome up to 50 patrons, and shared camping facilities will reopen.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced yesterday morning the planned lifting of restrictions from midnight June 21 will go ahead, despite concerns a Black Lives Matter protest could delay the rollout of stage 2.
These include allowing up to 50 people in cafes, restaurants and pubs – up from 20 people.
Patrons must be seated but the requirement to have a meal served with alcohol will be scrapped.
The same increased limit will apply to galleries, museums and amusement parks.
Betting pubs and casinos will open from July 20 with appropriate social distancing.
It comes at nine new cases in Victoria were announced yesterday morning.
Three are in hotel quarantine, five are linked to known outbreaks including a GP who tested positive while in self-isolation and one additional case identified through routine testing.
Two household family contacts of the doctor are among the newly diagnosed cases, taking the total number in this outbreak to four.
Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said every state was “going at their own pace” and unlike other parts of Australia including NSW, Victoria had no plans to scrap the 1 person per 4 sqm indoor rule just yet.
“NSW is going to the beat of its own drum,” he said.
“We’ll have consideration about caps ongoing but we’re not foreshadowing changes at this stage.”
Mr Andrews said the density caps were constantly under review and National Cabinet will make a recommendation to change or maintain the rule when it meets in a fortnight’s time.
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