Rolling coverage: 13 cases, four deaths; Chadstone added to high risk virus locations
An overwhelming majority of new cases recorded in Victoria still remain under investigation, with authorities desperately trying to link the cases to known outbreaks. It comes as Brett Sutton hit back at claims Victoria is pursing an eradication strategy for COVID-19 after a series of comments by former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos.
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Victoria has recorded 13 new cases of coronavirus, along with four deaths.
The state’s death toll is now 798.
The consistently low infection numbers mean Melbourne‘s crucial 14-day average remains firmly below 20, standing at 16.4.
Regional Victoria’s rolling average is 0.3.
There are 21 cases of an unknown source in metropolitan Melbourne and none across regional Victoria, with nine of today’s cases will under investigation.
Two of today’s are linked to aged care (Estia Keilor and Edenvale Manor) and two are linked to the Butcher Club at Chadstone. The other nine cases remain under investigation.
Currently, there are 326 active cases of COVID-19 across the state, including 147 in aged-care and one in disability care, and 46 among healthcare workers.
Regional Victoria is home to three cases, with no new cases recorded today.
The latest fatalities include a woman in her 70s, a woman in her 80s, and a woman in her 90s. Two of today’s four deaths are linked to a known aged care facility outbreak.
Forty-four Victorians in hospital, including six in intensive care all of which are on ventilators.
A total of 2,694,959 test results have been received which is an increase of 17,937 since yesterday.
It comes after 10 new cases and seven deaths were recorded on Tuesday.
All of Tuesday unknown new cases have been closed off and linked to existing outbreaks.
If cases remain low, Melbourne is expected to take the third step on the state’s COVID-19 recovery road map on October 19, a week earlier than originally scheduled.
Premier Daniel Andrews is set to provide an update at 11am.
CHADSTONE ADDED TO CITY’S HIGH RISK VIRUS LOCATIONS
A number of popular stores at Chadstone Shopping Centre have been added to the growing list of high-risk coronavirus hot spots around Melbourne.
“The locations listed are where there is a higher risk you may have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19),” the Department of Health and Human Services website says.
“The information is based on advice provided to the department by people who are confirmed cases.
“Risk locations will remain on the list for 14 days from the most recent exposure.
“The locations on this list are not a current risk to the public and you can visit them in line with current restrictions.”
Authorities say anyone who visited the locations during the dates should watch for symptoms and immediately get tested if symptoms do occur.
The new risk locations include:
— Woolworths Ashwood on 26 Sept,
— Coles Chadstone on 27 Sept,
— Chadstone Shopping Centre Fresh Food Precinct on 23-26 Sept between 6am-6pm,
— The Butcher Club – Chadstone Shopping Centre on 23-26 Sept between 6am-6pm.
For the full list of high risk locations, click here.
VIC NOT PURSUING ERADICATION STRATEGY: CHO
Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton on Wednesday reaffirmed that Victoria’s coronavirus strategy was to suppress the virus.
It comes after two public comments by former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos in which she referred to the state as being on track for eradication.
Prof Sutton said the focus remained on tackling community transmission and would not be drawn on Ms Mikakos statements.
“I’m not commenting on an ex-Mp commenting on Twitter,” he said.
“There’s nothing new in this space, the aggressive suppression strategy is a national cabinet strategy.
“We are looking to get to zero community transmission
“But it is in recognition of the fact the virus is out there globally, the virus will always have an opportunity to re-emerge in any jurisdiction no matter how long they might have gone without any community transmission.
“That’s been the case in Auckland, New Zealand and that’s been the case in other jurisdictions in Australia.”
Prof Sutton said Ms Mikakos was “extraordinarily hard working” and her replacement Martin Foley was up to the role.
“Having met, spoken to and gone through the strategy with Minister Foley, we are on the same page,” he said.
“He’s not been disconnected from the department of health’s work in general with his previous portfolio (mental health) obviously sitting in the building.
“It is the work of the department that he will oversee that everyone is totally focused on that task and knows their job.”
ACTIVE OUTBREAKS IN VICTORIA
Active aged care outbreaks with the highest active case numbers are
Estia Aged Care Facility Keilor: 33 (46 total)
Opal Hobsons Bay Aged Care Facility Altona North: 21 (total cases: 45)
Embracia Moonee Valley Aged Care Facility: 19 (total cases: 80)
Edenvale Manor Aged Care Facility Keilor East: 14 (total cases: 23)
Baptcare Wyndham Lodge Community Werribee: 12 (total cases: 260)
Doutta Galla Aged Services Woornack: 7 (total cases: 60)
Mercy Place Parkville Aged Care Facility: 7 (total cases: 104)
Twin Parks Aged Care Reservoir: 4 (total cases: 127)
Churches of Christ Care Arcadia Aged Care Essendon: 4 (total cases: 22)
Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility: 3 (total cases: 220)
Other outbreaks with the highest number of active cases are:
— 8 linked to the Casey community outbreak (total cases: 45)
— 5 linked to the Springvale shared accommodation outbreak (total cases: 5)
— 4 linked to Alfred Hospital (total cases: 11)
— 3 linked to Footscray Hospital (total cases: 20)
ANGLESEA RESIDENTS URGED TO GET TESTED
Sewerage testing on Tuesday picked up traces of coronavirus at Anglesea.
The result may not mean there are active cases in the region but a testing blitz will be launched in the area as a precaution.
An active testing centre has been set up at Anglesea town hall, testing commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed.
“Anybody in the area who has any symptoms whatsoever ... please come forward to get tested. We know either there is somebody who had COVID-19 who is in the area or someone who passed through, but someone could have coronavirus and not be aware of it,” Mr Weimar said.
BIRTHDAY PARTY GUESTS HID IN GARDEN
Twelve people have been fined after police pounced on a Melbourne birthday party and found guests hiding in the garden.
They were among 101 fined for COVID-19 breaches across Victoria over the past 24 hours.
Police caught the partygoers hiding in the garden at a private property in Coburg. The residents confirmed the gathering was to celebrate a birthday and 12 fines were issued.
Seven people from different households were also caught gathering at a Sunshine West address.
Sixteen others were fined for failing to wear a mask and 23 people were fined at vehicle checkpoints.
More than 28,000 vehicles were checked and 912 spot checks were done on people at homes, businesses and public places across the state.
It brings to 470,359 the number of spot checks conducted since March 21.
TESTING STEPS IN HIGH RISK INDUSTRIES
High-risk industries will be asked to test a quarter of their workforce each week under a new plan to tackle future coronavirus outbreaks.
Medium and large employers in the meat, poultry, seafood processing will be asked to test a quarter of their staff each week, with the goal of having most of the work force tested every month.
This will include supermarket and refrigerated distribution sectors.
Employees will not be required to self-isolate after every test and will be encouraged to use one of the government’s 200 testing sites from Thursday even if they are not symptomatic.
The Commonwealth will also test all private age care staff through a private tester.
Metropolitan aged care staff will also be tested every fortnight.
“Those businesses know it’s in their interest and everyone’s interest across the state to have that sense of monitoring,” Daniel Andrews said.
“This thing can simmer, it can be out there and not necessarily be obvious to you.”
ANDREWS STANDS BY EMBATTLED SENIOR BUREAUCRATS
Premier Daniel Andrews is standing by three senior bureaucrats savaged by lawyers assisting the inquiry into the botched program.
Counsel assisting the inquiry said on Monday that three departmental secretaries – Premier and Cabinet’s Chris Eccles, Health and Human Services’ Kym Peake, and Jobs, Precincts and Regions’ Simon Phemister — had failed to properly brief their ministers.
But Mr Andrews has backed the trio, saying he was satisfied they should remain in their roles leading the public service out of the pandemic.
“I’m confident that those three public servants are acting appropriately,” he said.
Mr Andrews said that he would move quickly to act on any recommendations the inquiry made in its report, due on November 6.
But he said flights — diverted from Melbourne — would not resume until after the inquiry hands down its report.
“There’s quite a lot of work going on so that we can be ready on that issue, to set something up that is as safe as possible,” Mr Andrews said.
“It will be one of those things where we want to leave room to be able to add to that framework in the event that the board puts to thus is certain things we should do.”
Self-Employed Australia wrote to WorkSafe on Tuesday “seeking prosecution of the Victorian government for breaches of work safety laws”.
The group urged the watchdog to prosecute the Premier, three ministers, 16 senior bureaucrats and five government departments over “indictable criminal offences against the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004”.
“The public evidence given under oath to the Inquiry describes a work system of hotel
quarantine that was chaotic, disorganised, uncoordinated, badly resourced and without
control systems capable of achieving the primary objective — namely, to contain and stop
the spread of COVID-19 by returning travellers,” the group said.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety confirmed on Tuesday that nine people who worked at the “health hotels” had tested positive for COVID-19 since July 27 — but said it was not believed they were infected while working at the hotels.
It comes as concerns are raised that the entire scheme may have been unlawful, and the nation’s medical expert panel considers a bold plan that would triage overseas arrivals and allow, at least some, to quarantine at home.
Scott Morrison said it had been the states and territories that were “the most urgent in moving forward” with the hotel model.
But the Prime Minister said the medical expert panel was now considering “alternative methods” for quarantining those returning from overseas.
“As time goes on, we will need a more flexible approach that gives us more options for managing this,” he said.
Concerns about the lawfulness of the scheme have been raised over the failure of authorities to regularly review the holding of a person in detention.
The Department of Health and Human Services was advised it must conduct reviews every 24 hours of persons detained in the hotel quarantine program – but failed to do so.
The government could now face potential legal action over the failure.
Human Rights Law Centre executive director Hugh de Kretser, who was detained in the hotel quarantine program, said there were serious questions about whether authorities acted unlawfully.
“The government has been given extreme powers to respond to this pandemic and its critical they are used responsibly,” he said.
RESTRICTIONS WE COULD BE FORCED TO LIVE WITH
Watching footy at the MCG and dining in Melbourne restaurants could be changed for a decade by COVID-19.
Expect to see more than 15 per cent of the crowd at next year’s Grand Final wearing masks; a prospect Victorians could not have dreamt of just six months ago.
And prepare to dine differently in Melbourne’s popular cafes and restaurants than you did pre-pandemic.
Leading demographer Bernard Salt said masks were set to become a feature of Victorian – and particularly Melbourne – life, for perhaps the next ten years.
Read the full story here.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON HOW VICTORIA SHOULD REBUILD
TEACHERS FIRE BACK AT TREASURER’S SCHOOL CLAIMS
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has called for all Victorian students to return to school “now”, but principals groups have urged him to “stick to his knitting”.
The Victorian MP urged Premier Daniel Andrews to allow all year levels to get back to the classroom, citing concerns over declining mental wellbeing.
Mr Frydenberg said as a Victorian parent he was “very focused on my children and other people’s children getting back to school”.
“I note that the timetable has been accelerated for some of the year levels but I cannot see why all students can’t get back to school in Victoria now,” he said on Tuesday.
But Australian Principals Federation president Julie Podbury said Mr Frydenberg should concentrate on the economy and “let us deal with education”.
“My principals are very happy with the timeline,” she said.
“It’s not just the wellbeing of the kids — it’s the wellbeing of teachers, principals and support staff and they’re worried about (virus) numbers.”
It comes after the return of primary kids in grades 3 to 6 was brought forward by two weeks, to October 12, while those in years 7 to 10 continue to wait until at least October 26.
Mr Frydenberg said he’d read letters from doctors and GPs that spoke to a declining mental health of Victorian children due to the lockdown.
Among them was a letter from Melbourne GP Dr Stacey Harris, who urged Mr Andrews to return children in term 4, saying she had to put young patients on anti depressants, who “cry how much they are missing school and friends”.
“And the number of cases that they are seeing through their doors (are) skyrocketing, providing antidepressants to kids as young as 12 and 13 as a result of this lockdown,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“So I say to the Premier, follow the medical advice, but please get Victorian children back to school at all levels.”
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Sue Bell said Mr Frydenberg should leave the decisions to the health and education experts.
“We feel his pain and frustration as a parent, but as a leader in our country, we expect him to look at the bigger picture,” she said.
Ms Podbury said principals noted the return timeline was “playing very cautiously” so to not disrupt the compulsory General Achievement Test for VCE students on October 7.
“I’m fairly confident that most of the kids will be back fairly quickly after that,” she said.
Education Minister James Merlino said “all decisions about the return of 7-10 students to face-to-face learning will be based upon expert public health advice”.
Meanwhile, about 100 Victorian boarder students who live in remote NSW are being forced to fly to Sydney if they want to go home in a “bizarre” state health order.
Caroline Booth, from southern NSW, is calling for changes to arrangements that force her three kids boarding at Ballarat Grammar to travel to Melbourne and fly to Sydney if they need to return home, increasing their COVID-19 exposure risk.
“Boarding school is difficult at the best of times, but if the kids get sick for example I’ll have no choice but to bring them back through Sydney even though our place is only five hours from Ballarat,” she said.
– Ashley Argoon
APP NOT USED FOR CONTRACT TRACING
For a fortnight at the height of the second wave, the Victorian Government stopped using the COVIDSafe app to track down coronavirus cases.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was concerned about the privacy of user data, according to the federal Department of Health.
“DHHS were also concerned about whether the privacy laws prohibited access to COVIDSafe App data by contact tracers from interstate and third party providers who were assisting Victoria in their contact tracing efforts,” the federal Department of Health said in an answer to a question on notice.
“As a result, contact tracing interviews did not collect information or access details of cases who had downloaded the COVIDSafe app, while the legal position was clarified.”
The DHHS halted using the app on July 16 and did not restart until August 1.
Victorian Senator James Patterson said it was a shame the state had scrapped the use that has proved useful in tracking down cases in NSW.
“It’s disappointing that at the height of the crisis the Victorian government wasn’t using every tool available at its disposal to quickly track and trace the virus,” Senator Patterson told the Herald Sun.
“We will never know how many were missed in Victoria by their failure to do so.”
A DHHS spokesman said the app would play an “important role in the response to the pandemic going forward”.
To date, 1837 Victorian cases have used the app.
Daniel Andrews has been under sustained pressure to improve the state’s troubled contact tracing system, with Victorian officials sent to NSW to learn from their counterparts north of the border.
– Tamsin Rose