Religious celebration sparked Melbourne’s big family cluster
A religious feast that broke restrictions during Victoria’s strict coronavirus lockdown has been revealed to be behind one of Melbourne’s biggest family clusters. It occurred despite a campaign to warn multicultural communities of the virus.
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A family at the heart of one of Melbourne’s largest COVID-19 clusters held an Eid celebration that broke public health restrictions.
The Australian has confirmed that a family cluster of at least 14 cases across multiple households in Melbourne’s north and outer southeast has been linked to a gathering in Coburg held to celebrate the end of the Muslim holy month on the weekend of May 23 and 24.
At the time, Victorians were prohibited from having more than five guests in their homes.
The Coburg Eid breach occurred despite a campaign by the Islamic community and Andrews government to inform people about dangers of the virus.
Asked whether any of those responsible for breaching social-distancing directives would be fined, a Health Department spokesman said: “The contact-tracing process relating to the Coburg family cluster is ongoing and all relevant avenues will be explored.”
A receptionist at the Pakenham Medical Clinic in Melbourne’s southeast told The Australian on Wednesday that a female patient who had attended the clinic on June 10 for testing and received a positive COVID-19 result three days later was believed to have contracted the virus at a family Eid celebration in Coburg now associated with the cluster.
“That’s correct, yes,” the receptionist said, adding that the GP who treated the patient remained in quarantine, had not tested positive and no further cases had been linked to the clinic.
Two Pakenham Springs Primary School students, who are understood to be the patient’s children, are also part of the Coburg cluster.
Islamic Council of Victoria vice-president Adel Salman said while he had heard rumours of people breaking rules to meet in larger numbers, there was no evidence to back this up, and he did not want people stigmatised.
“By and large, I think the Muslim community has been exemplary,” Mr Salman said.
Meanwhile, at least 14 cases have been linked to a cluster of security contractors at the Stamford Plaza quarantine hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, while 17 have been linked to an earlier cluster at Rydges on Swanston.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday confirmed that a family cluster in the outer southeastern suburb of Hallam had been caused by a Stamford Plaza security contractor infecting family members.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday separately implied that a security contractor had been among several people who knowingly breached quarantine. He also blamed “families, larger families often, making decisions … not in accordance with the rules”.
There are currently five active cases in the local government area of Cardinia, which includes Pakenham, and nine in the neighbouring area of Casey, which include the Hallam cluster linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak.
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