Rolling coverage: No new local cases, vaccine hubs to open next week
Residents in Melbourne’s east have been put on notice after health officials detected traces of the virus in wastewater across the area.
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Health officials issued an alert on Thursday night for several Melbourne suburbs after detecting coronavirus fragments in wastewater.
The Department of Health said there were multiple areas of concern where anyone with COVID-19 symptoms was urged to get tested.
These include people who live in or have visited:
- Wantirna South, Boronia, Bayswater, Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield and Tremont between February 13 – 15
- Carrum Downs, Langwarrin and Skye between February 13 – 16
- St Kilda East, Caulfield, Caulfield North, Balaclava and Elsternwick between February 13 – 16
Wastewater samples were being collected from 60 sites across Victoria.
The Department said viral fragments in wastewater could be due to an active infectious case but could also be due to someone who has recovered from coronavirus and is continuing to shed the virus.
It comes as Vaccine hubs are set to open at four major Victorian health facilities next week, as dozens of nursing homes also begin their rollouts from Monday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday announced Pfizer vaccination centres would open at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, Sunshine Hospital, University Hospital Geelong and Austin Health.
Frontline healthcare workers will access the vaccine at these hubs.
At the same time, the rollout will begin across dozens of aged care homes across Victoria.
“There will be approximately 240 aged care facilities, if not more, that are vaccinated in week one,” Mr Hunt said.
Point Lonsdale will have its aged care residents vaccinated in the first week of the program.
Borough of Queenscliffe mayor Ross Ebbels welcomed the news of an early rollout to Victoria’s most elderly community.
“Knowing that the rollout starts on Monday, we are very excited and thankful for everyone concerned,” Cr Ebbels said.
“People have really been waiting for it, and because of our age demographic, we are a vulnerable community.
“We have been very fortunate with COVID cases throughout the year, and we’re looking forward to the next stage, which is keeping it that way.”
VACCINE ARRIVAL A ‘TURNING POINT’
Health Minister Martin Foley said the vaccine would be a really significant turning point in the pandemic.
“Our plan is that we will be ready to go from Monday,” Mr Foley said.
“Victoria’s looking to get about 11,000 a week”
The first to be vaccinated will be hotel quarantine workers and airport workers dealing with the international borders.
Regions will be targeted early in the distribution of the vaccine.
NO NEW LOCAL CASES AS LOCKDOWN LIFTS
Victoria’s lockdown has been lifted overnight, following record testing numbers and no new cases on Wednesday.
No new local cases were recorded for a second consecutive day on Thursday, but one was detected in hotel quarantine.
More than 30,000 test results were received and the state now has 25 active cases.
But some restrictions remain in place, with only five visitors a day allowed at home and up to twenty people allowed to gather in public spaces.
Face masks remain mandatory indoors and in workplaces and outdoors when social distancing isn’t possible.
The mask rule will be reviewed on Friday, February 26.
Health officials are investigating after an aged-care resident returned a “weak positive” test following two negative results.
They suspect the man, who was originally infected in August last year, is a case of shedding rather than an active infection.
Fifteen of the 19 cases associated with the Holiday Inn outbreak have had their genomic sequencing linked to the Holiday Inn and the remaining four are imminent, Health Minister Martin Foley said.
Health authorities said positive cases may develop among the close contacts in isolation over the next eight days.
Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said healthy testing numbers were key to keeping the outbreak contained.
An area of concern over the past few days had been staff and close contacts at the mental health facility at Broadmeadows Hospital but all results have now come back negative.
Eight-four out of eighty-five close contacts at Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Glenroy have tested negative so far with all primary close contacts at Glenroy Central Kindergarten also testing negative.
All tests from Elite Swimming in Pascoe Vale have also come back negative.
A high level of testing from Queeen Victoria Market has also been promising, Mr Weimar said.
The majority of tests from St Aloysius primary school in Ballarat have also been negative.
Doorknocking compliance has been very good, Mr Weimar said, and anyone who was not at home has been tracked down. Every case had legitimate reasons for not being at home.
“We absolutely reserve our right to fine people but we deal with those on a case by case basis,” he said.
A number of temporary measures are in place with Worksafe at Melbourne Airport to ensure all authorised officers are complying with restrictions so that people working in the red zone are not coming into contact with people working in the green zone during meal times.
Mr Weimar said authorities were confident that all those health risks were being well-managed and health authorities would continue working with WorkSafe to ensure compliance to keep everyone working at the airport entirely safe.
A testing site as MSAC in South Melbourne has now been closed but a new site has been set up on Aughtie Drive at Albert Park, which will open from 7-days from 8am to 5pm.
ALERT OVER WASTEWATER MONITORING
Victorians with even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms are being urged to get tested following the detection of viral fragments in Victoria’s expanded wastewater monitoring program.
Weak detections of viral fragments have been found in a wastewater sample collected on February 15 from the Wantirna South and Boronia area, and in samples collected on February 16 in the Carrum Downs and Langwarrin area, and in the St Kilda, Caulfield and Caulfield North area.
Anyone who lives in or has visited one of these areas during these periods is urged to get tested:
Wantirna South or Boronia: February 13 to 15 including parts of Bayswater, Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield and Tremont
Carrum Downs or Langwarrin: February 13 to 16, including parts of Skye
St Kilda East or Caufield North: February 13 to 16, including parts of Balaclava, Caulfield and Elsternwick
MINISTER URGES ACTION ON FACEBOOK BAN
No Victorian health pages have been affected by Facebook’s latest move to block Australian news over a proposed media bargaining law, Health Minister Martin Foley said.
“This is an issue of concern, we need to make sure reliable, authoritative health information is readily available on all platforms.
“Anything that removes credible and reliable information sources in the midst of a global pandemic is beyond regrettable and needs to be fixed.
“This matter needs to be taken up by the federal government and fixed as soon as possible.”
Mr Weimar said the social media giant was an important channel for communicating to Victorians.
“I would implore all social media organisations: Getting critical health information is going to be particularly important not only at a time where we’re trying to get people tested and do the right thing, but also heading into vaccination,” he said.
PAINFUL COST OF LOCKDOWN
Victoria’s snap lockdown is estimated by economists and industry experts to have cost the state up to $1bn over the five days.
Businesses rejoiced as the lockdown was lifted, but the Australian Industry Group estimated the shutdown cost the state as much as $2.3bn in lost or postponed household spending.
Compensation for the state’s lockdown will start flowing as early as next week, according to Premier Daniel Andrews.
Amid businesses warning they will have to close their doors permanently, the Premier said work was underway to support operators hit hard by the five-day shutdown.
“We are still finalising that package of support for small business and others who have been impacted in recent days, we will make announcements soon, “ he said on Thursday.
“I accept there is a responsibility of the government to get this package of support right and that’s exactly what we will do and then we will make sure we get that money out to people as soon as we can, … certainly next week.”
Ai Group Victoria director Tim Piper said business could only “cautiously” welcome the end of the state’s third lockdown given the ongoing possibility of future snap closures.
“It is clear that testing and tracing were the keys to resolving this potential outbreak and not the lockdown, which was disproportionate to the risk,” Mr Piper said.
“We need to learn from this lockdown and adjust the responses accordingly.”
AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver estimated the closure would slash about $715m from the economy — with the hospitality and retail sectors hardest hit — while the Victorian Chamber of Commerce put the cost at between $500m and $1bn.
Mr Oliver said the shorter nature of the lockdown meant economic activity was likely to have been postponed rather than cancelled. “It should bounce back quickly,” he said.
The Restaurant and Catering Association said the state’s hospitality sector would have lost $100m while the Victorian Tourism Industry Council said operators had been hit with “hundreds of millions of dollars” in lost bookings and extra expenses.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the return of workers to CBD offices — sorely needed by traders there — would not happen while masks had to be worn.
Preparations were under way on Wednesday night at bar and restaurant The Commons at Ormond to welcome back diners on Thursday.
Owner Bruce Keebaugh said he hoped the Australian Open finals and warm weather forecast until Saturday night would bring Victorians back.
“What we’ve got to do now is look forward to this weekend and get people to support hospitality again,” he said.
Mr Keebaugh said it was a relief to be able to welcome dine-in patrons once again after having to throw away more than $1m in stock and supplies purchased ahead of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.
There are now 25 active cases across the state and 3400 people in isolation. Nearly 40,000 Victorians were tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday and a total of 130,000 tests were received over the lockdown.
More than 40 locations have been listed as exposure sites, with 1312 people isolating because they are primary close contacts.
Mr Andrews said the “circuit breaker” had worked but warned there were still nine days to go until the last positive case finished their 14 days of quarantine.
“We have to be vigilant and we can’t pretend its over,” he said. “I want to thank all Victorians for understanding this is often about making difficult choices — it’s not easy, nobody takes it lightly.”
Mr Andrews said it was too early for Treasury to report the impact of the lockdown but flagged the government was working on further support packages for businesses.
Masks will remain mandatory indoors and outdoors, when people cannot socially distance, as “an ongoing insurance policy”.
Schools will reopen, half of public and private sectors will be able to return to their place of work, and retail and hospitality businesses will throw open their doors with their same density limits as before the outbreak. Household visits will be limited to five people, and 20 people will be allowed at public gatherings.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the lockdown had cost businesses “a lot of money” over what should have been a bumper weekend. “In the days leading up to the weekend, where trade was cancelled and you go into a statewide lockdown, it has a massive economic impact, not to mention the emotional impact on people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state’s Opposition says immediate compensation should be delivered to businesses impacted by the 5-day lockdown in Victoria.
Speaking at parliament on Thursday Michael O’Brien said businesses were suffering and compensation “needs to happen now”.
“There are bills that are not being paid today,” he said.
“Small business has been absolutely smashed by these lockdowns... we’ve had thousands and tens of thousands of dollars being thrown away.
“When is the government going to stand up and actually give those small businesses the compensation they deserve.”
He called for assistance for the hospitality industry in particular, with millions in perishables.
It comes after Daniel Andrews has previously flagged there would be assistance, but has not yet made any announcements.
Treasurer Tim Pallas on Thursday said a package was being consider, but that the state first had to see what the impacts were.
HOT ENOUGH TO FLIP OUT
Melbourne’s five-day lockdown did not stop some from lapping up the sun at Parkdale beach on Wednesday afternoon.
Beachgoers at Half Moon Bay near Black Rock, north of Parkdale, were also taking a dip as the temperature climbed into the 30s across most of Melbourne.
Housemates Helene Rapassanis, 18, Luis Soto, 20, and Sam Plaisted, 20, made a “last-minute” decision to head to the beach.
Mr Soto said Parkdale beach was “real close” to their house, with the trio spending more than three hours in and by the water.
“We weren’t too sure of the rules about the beach,” Mr Soto said. “But it was packed.”
He said he did not pay attention to whether people were wearing masks, “I just saw people enjoying themselves.”
Under the circuit-breaker restrictions, which ended at 11.59pm on Wednesday, Victorians were permitted to go to the beach to exercise — for up to two hours — if a beach was within their 5km radius.
Masks were and remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors, unless an exemption applies, such as exercising.
Melburnians can expect the hot weather to stick around, with maximums of 31C, 33C and 32C forecast for the next three days.
AUS OPEN NUMBERS CUT
Australian Open crowd numbers have been slashed, with the Andrews government to allow just 7477 spectators at each remaining session of the Melbourne grand slam.
The state government previously ruled up to 25,000 fans would be able to attend the business end of the Open, including the final four days.
But only 14,954 spectators in total will be allowed to attend day and night sessions on Thursday.
And crowds will be capped at 7477 for twilight sessions on Friday as well as Saturday and Sunday’s women’s and men’s finals.
WARNING NOTICE FOR HOTEL QUARANTINE
Victoria’s hotel quarantine agency is racing to build a secure workspace at Melbourne Airport after the state’s safety watchdog raised infection control concerns.
COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria will construct new offices within six weeks in the bid to stop staff who interact with incoming overseas travellers entering “green zone” areas around the airport.
It is feared they could contract and potentially pass on the virus.
The move comes after WorkSafe Victoria issued CQV and the health department improvement notices over infection protocol.
INSIDE COBURG ‘RICE FEEDING’ DINNER
A Coburg restaurant owner who hosted a ‘rice feeding’ dinner party linked to the latest COVID outbreak said it was only the second-ever function he’s held at the venue.
An unknowingly-infected Holiday Inn worker attended the event at 426 Sydney Rd, where six others, including a three-year-old, have also tested positive.
The restaurant owner, who asked not to be identified, said he has only leased the site since December and hosted two private functions there.
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