Rolling: School in Melbourne’s north shut after student tests positive, more cases expected in cluster
More than 500 residents in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have been told to isolate after a child who went to school tested positive, with health authorities warning more cases are likely to emerge from the cluster, which grew by five cases today.
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Melburnians are holding their breath in fear a new COVID-19 outbreak in the city’s north could spread across the suburbs.
All five of the state’s new infections cases on Thursday were linked to the growing northern suburbs cluster, which has now closed two schools and forced more than 500 people to isolate.
In the 15 days since the first case was confirmed, the outbreak has grown to 28 people across six households.
Health authorities warned on Thursday they expected the number of cases to grow due to a bungle which saw a primary student mistakenly sent to school.
But with dozens of families already in isolation — including 120 residents of a Broadmeadows social housing block linked to a positive case — it is hoped any further cases are already locked down and will not affect the recovery road map.
Northern suburbs residents, especially those in Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg, have been urged to get tested if experiencing any symptoms.
Authorities are racing to snuff out the outbreak, admitting a misunderstanding between health officials and a family saw an infected year 5 student attended East Preston Islamic College this week.
It is understood some family members had tested positive to coronavirus and had been ordered to quarantine at home, while others yet to test positive had been told to isolate for 14 days.
When those quarantining tested negative days later they were told they could leave the house — however the family misunderstood directions and allowed all members to leave, believing they had been cleared to do so.
To prevent a repeat, contact tracers will now use a “whole household” approach with one case worker per family rather than individual members, to improve communication and avoid confusion.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng said the family’s confusion was “probably understandable”.
He said the new approach “is about case-managing the family rather than each person having a case manager”.
“There can be confusion when there is multiple people in the family and the symptoms for some start on a particular day and are cleared on a particular day,” he said.
“It is unfortunately one of those things.”
At the centre of the debacle is confusion over the difference between isolation and quarantine.
In many instances, confirmed cases of COVID-19 spend less time in isolation than their close contacts, who are forced to quarantine for at least 14 days — the virus’s incubation period.
“Quarantine is about how long it takes to get sick after you have been exposed and that is actually longer in a lot of people,” Prof Cheng said.
The Herald Sun understands the student went to school on Monday and Tuesday after infected family members were cleared of the virus.
His father told the school the boy had tested previously negative, but another screening on his 11th day returned a positive result.
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL EXPLAINS CONFUSION
Principal Ekrem Ozyurek OAM said the boy’s mother brought letters from the department, dated October 17, to the school on Monday that cleared his two older siblings to return.
The younger boy had earlier returned negative COVID-19 tests, and his family believed he was also safe to head back to school.
However, DHHS called the boy’s father on Tuesday and said he required his 11th day test at 4pm that afternoon.
Mr Ozyurek said he received a call from the department after 3pm that day, asking if the boy had been in attendance.
He said it was his first call from the department, with all earlier communication regarding the family’s isolation the week before coming from the parents.
“(The department) said he wasn’t supposed to be at school,” Mr Ozyurek recalled.
“I rang the father, he said (the boy) was negative all the time.
“Somewhere there was a misunderstanding or a miscommunication.”
Mr Ozyurek said the parents did the “right thing”.
“When you have a letter of clearance from the department that those (older) kids are OK and the mother gave those letters to the office and the Grade 5 kid was negative — I don’t understand why his 11 day test was on Tuesday,” he said.
“Along the way, whether it is a language barrier or something else I can’t say.”
The boy returned normal temperature checks on Monday and Tuesday — the school continues to test pupils despite not being required to.
“When I spoke to the classroom teacher she said, ‘He didn’t show any symptoms’,” Mr Ozyurek said.
“He was sitting right at the front, right near the classroom teacher.”
Mr Ozyurek raised an issue over information being related to families through letters.
He hoped face-to-face virtual meetings could be held in future to ensure people could seek clarity or ask questions.
“I know a lot of messages are translated and sent to communities in second languages,” he said.
“Somehow (could they do) face to face meetings with interpreters rather than a written thing?
“Some of these parents might be illiterate, some might have to have it read to them — I still sometimes interpret for parents.”
Mr Ozyurek said “rather than try to find a fault we should try and work out how we can work together to minimise these things”
“Whatever happened, happened and we can’t change things, but on the other hand we have to work and see what we can do to make eachother safe,” he said.
He hoped students would be able to return by Monday when pupils in Years 8 to 10 were due to come back after remote learning.
Dallas Brooks Community Primary has also been closed as a precaution due to a close contact link with East Preston Islamic College.
It will be deep cleaned over the long weekend with expectations of a reopening next week.
FIVE NEW CASES LINKED TO KNOWN OUTBREAKS
Victoria has recorded five new cases and no deaths from coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
All of the five cases are linked to known outbreaks, four of which are in the Hume area and one in the Banyule area.
Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average is now 6.1 while regional Victoria’s remains at 0.4.
All five new infections are linked to known outbreaks, with the city’s mystery case count over the past fortnight remaining steady at 10.
Nine Victorians are in hospital, but none are in intensive care.
There are only five cases currently linked to aged care facilities, and eight cases linked to healthcare workers.
Of the states 105 active cases, three are in the Greater Shepparton area, and the remainder in metropolitan Melbourne.
Nearly 18,500 tests were processed yesterday.
OVERHAUL OF POSITIVE CASE MANAGEMENT FLAGGED
Victoria’s Department of Health appears to prepare to once again overhaul its practices in the wake of the latest issue.
Where previously individual cases or close contacts were managed by different DHHS staff members, Prof Cheng admitted it would be more appropriate to have all members of a family hearing from the same source to avoid confusion.
“I think that is the approach we will take, is about the case managing the family rather than each person having a case manager,” Prof Cheng said.
“It is understandable that there can be confusion when there is multiple people in the family and the symptoms for some start on a particular day and then are cleared on a particular day. It is unfortunately one of those things.”
SCHOOL SHUTS AFTER STUDENTS TEST POSITIVE
A testing blitz has been launched in the northern suburbs following a positive case at East Preston Islamic College.
The student was identified as a close case of another positive case on Tuesday.
The five new cases bring the number of active cases in the cluster to 16 across six households, with a total of 36 people impacted by the cluster over the past fortnight.
A total of 73 close contacts have been identified at the school, including students and staff, and they and their households have all been ordered to self-isolate for 14-days.
This has resulted in about 400 people quarantining.
The child went to school while he was meant to be self-isolating, resulting in the closure of two schools in Melbourne’s north.
East Preston Islamic College was shut on Wednesday after the grade 5 boy received his positive result.
Update: Information on the Broadmeadows testing site, including location and times, has been added here: https://t.co/Z3aT2Xr9xJ #COVID19vic pic.twitter.com/388STy32df
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) October 21, 2020
The school has students from kindergarten to year 12.
The infected student attended classes on Monday and Tuesday.
Contact tracing chief Jeroen Weimar said the situation was unique.
“My assessment of that situation is there were a number of people who were released from their quarantine period, having no longer being infectious, but other members of the household were still defined as close contacts and have not yet tested positive, one of the members
of that household did attend school on the Monday and Tuesday, he had his day 11 test and that was positive.”
Late on Wednesday night, the Department of Health and Human Services urged any residents of Melbourne’s northern suburbs including Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg who are experiencing mild symptoms to be tested.
Dallas Brooks Primary School was also closed on Wednesday as a precaution after a close contact of the East Preston Islamic College student was identified there.
The DHHS issued a statement on Wednesday night warning that they expected more cases would be detected as a result.
It said cases linked to the outbreak had been found in a Broadmeadows social housing block.
Notices were sent to 120 residents asking them to self-isolate for 48 hours, to get tested and to monitor for symptoms.
The household that tested positive has been moved to alternative accommodation.
TESTING CONFUSION AT BROADMEADOWS HOUSING BLOCK
Confusion reigns among 120 residents of the Unison social housing apartment complex in Broadmeadows where there has been a positive coronavirus case.
Residents are unclear on health orders regarding testing, self isolation periods and if they can leave the building or not.
It comes after a resident of the social housing complex tested positive to the virus as part of the northern suburbs cluster.
A pop-up rapid response coronavirus testing van is on scene but people are coming and going as they please and some have not yet been tested.
Others who have been tested have said they will need to be retested when they return home.
The complex is not locked down but health officials are doing door-to-door testing, dressed in full PPE.
Unison apartment resident Osman Gure left the building about 12pm and revealed he had not yet been tested.
Alarmingly, he said he had been told by authorities the coronavirus positive case was a child who lived next door to him.
“I am just shocked, we didn’t know that we had coronavirus here,” Mr Gure said.
“They said a little baby had coronavirus and they are going to test us.”
Mr Gure left home to get some medicine for his son.
Broadmeadows resident Jamie, who lives in the apartment complex adjacent to the Unison tower, said he was shocked he had received no warning from government about the potential outbreak meters away from his home.
He said ADF personnel were on scene at the public housing apartment complex two days ago.
“That is when it triggered,” he said.
“No one has called me to say anything.”
He had a voluntary COVID-19 test which came back negative but said he found the situation unbelievable.
“It’s crazy,” he said.
“It is unbelievable.”
Asked if he was concerned he responded: “Of course.”
Unison apartment resident
Eric Seeger said he was “not surprised” the virus had infiltrated his building.
“There are a lot of stupid people with this virus,” he said.
“We were told we had to be tested. We weren’t told who had the virus.”
Mr Seegar said he had concerns for children and the elderly when it came to the virus.
He was glad to take his son to daycare on Thursday after he received a negative test.
Unison apartment resident Stef Barcellona, 23, had a test on Wednesday afternoon and was given the “all clear” with a negative result about 6am - less than 14 hours after it was performed.
“We woke up this morning and got our result,” Ms Barcellona said.
“I knew I wasn’t sick but you have to get it done to do the right thing.
“I think they’re doing their best making sure people are safe.”
HOPE FOR CAFES, RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Shops, cafes, restaurants and bars are expected to open their doors to the public next Wednesday.
The Premier is expected to announce the move on Sunday, allowing workers to go into their venues and stores the next morning to prepare for the reopening.
But hospitality venues are pushing for higher patron limits as they prepare to reopen for indoor and outdoor trading.
Daniel Andrews again gave a strong indication he will announce easing of restrictions around hospitality and retail sectors, admitting people were frustrated.
“We have to deal with the health problem first,” he said.
“We have to look at the damage that this pandemic has done to us in lots of different ways; personal, family, economy, different sectors, different businesses, different workers have been impacted,” he said.
On Wednesday, the government announced a planning scheme amendment to make it easier for venues to set up outdoor dining.
“Whether it is in the CBD, regional Victoria, suburban outlets, strip shopping centres, people are looking for incredibly innovative ways to ensure they can get up and get going; and ensure that their outdoor venues are appropriate,” said Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
The government is expected to allow a “dark opening” for venues next Monday and Tuesday, with trading from Wednesday.
Owner of several restaurants, including Chin Chin, Chris Lucas said venues must be allowed to open for indoor dining with at least 20 people per space instead of the 10 envisaged.
“And assuming new infections remain low, after a fortnight we’d like to move to 50 per space,” he said.
“The key objective is that by the end of November we are able to operate at half our capacity, which will allow us to operate during the December-Christmas period, and take advantage of the busiest period of the year.”
Mr Lucas said the industry operated very safely.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said that provided virus cases stayed low, Mr Andrews should keep his promise to open up earlier than originally planned for early November.
“Businesses across our city are prepared to reopen in a COVID-safe way,” she said.
“Melbourne is the nation’s leader in hospitality. Our business owners are responsible and professional.”
Ms Capp said the government should be more flexible with restrictions, such as customer numbers for hospitality.
“I will keep pushing to get as many diners as possible into venues in a COVID-safe way, as soon as we can. This will help save jobs and livelihoods,” she said.
Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said there was light at the end of a very long tunnel for hospitality and retail.
“Sadly, many people’s businesses haven’t made it,” he said. “We must get percentage of capacity limits for indoor dining instead of blunt caps on numbers, because for restrictions to be sustainable, small business owners need to be able to make ends meet.”
“This is a good step, but so many industries such as events, tourism, comedy, arts and cultural institutions are still waiting for a workable road map to recovery.”
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said there was some hope at last for many Victorian businesses doing it tough.
“The Victorian Chamber has consistently advocated for an earlier opening, and we are optimistic for a win on behalf of business this Sunday,” he said.
HOPE FOR CHURCHES CLOUDED BY TIGHT RULES
Daniel Andrews has sparked hope among people of faith after flagging a significant easing of restrictions around religious gatherings.
But senior church officials remain cautiously optimistic amid concerns the changes won’t include a return to indoor gatherings.
A major concern has been raised about elderly people forced to gather outside in inclement weather.
Under current restrictions religious gatherings are capped at five people in Melbourne and 20 in regional Victoria and must be outside.
Church leaders — pointing out the fact regional pubs are allowed 70 outside and 40 inside — have accused the state government of dismissing people of faith.
The Premier said he would discuss the restrictions with Catholic Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli this week after he expressed disappointment over the rules. The archbishop had not been contacted on Wednesday.
“We are looking at this very carefully and I hope on Sunday to be able to give to people of faith what they have been craving and missed all this year. But it has to be safe,” Mr Andrews said on Wednesday.
Defending the disparity between church services and hospitality venues Mr Andrews said places of worship were not regulated.
“It’s not a matter of, ‘I have made the decision’. It is public health and international experts that establish they are different gatherings and that a heavy regulated environment, licensed environment is different to one that is not. That is pretty plain,” he said.
Archbishop Comensoli said places of worship had demonstrated support for restrictions and the capacity to comply with them.
“If you can pop over the road for a beer with however many people, you should be able to step into your church with the same number of people and pray,” he said.
CAFE FORCED TO HIRE SECURITY AFTER DIG AT ANDREWS
A Melbourne cafe owner says a ‘lighthearted’ sign charging Daniel Andrews supporters extra for coffees has triggered a flood of abuse and threats, prompting him to hire security guards.
The sign at Arcobar in Moorabbin, in the city’s southeast, asks people to add $1 to their coffee order if they support the Premier.
It has been on the counter for three weeks but the backlash only started on Wednesday after a photo of the sign was shared on social media.
Arcobar co-owner Franz Madlener told the Herald Sun his staff had been inundated with abuse, including one person who called up threatening to hurl a brick through his window.
As a result, he has hired a security company to do 24/7 patrols.
He said the sign was an attempt at “lighthearted banter” to counter the comments he regularly hears from customers about how he should feel happy about the reopening targets.
“It’s a silent protest to the people who come in and lecture us that we should be grateful for what the government’s done and grateful that they’re going to let us open again soon,” he said.
“We’re not trying to make a political stance we’re just saying ‘hey we’re a small business we are doing it tough’. Don’t tell us we should be grateful.”
Mr Madlener said he wasn’t anti-Labor and wasn’t affiliated with any political party.
He said the business had more than 100 calls on Wednesday from people swearing and yelling at his staff.
The sign was posted to social media this week.
The sign was posted to social media this week.
“There was a lot of personal abuse, it was pretty vile. And then the trolling online is just unbelievable, I can’t even look at it. It’s just been the most emotional day for all the staff. One of the girls had to go home early she was so upset.”
Their rating on google went from 4.7 down to below 2 by Wednesday afternoon, Mr Madlener said.
He said the level of abuse was “off the charts”.
“I’ve been in business all my life I’ve never seen such division, such anger in the community,” he said.
Mr Madlener said since the start of the pandemic the business has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars but was persevering with takeaway orders and was “just hanging on”.
He said he would keep the sign up because he didn’t want to be seen to be giving in to the “aggressive minority”.
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