Aged care resident at Hawthorn Village in Bright tests positive to coronavirus

About 25 aged care residents in the state’s north-east have been placed into quarantine after a fellow resident tested positive to coronavirus yesterday. Families have been notified and contact tracing is underway.

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There have been two new cases of COVID-19 discovered in Victoria overnight after a resident in an aged care home was diagnosed with the virus in the state’s north-east.

About 25 residents at Hawthorn Village in Bright have been placed under lockdown as authorities begin cleaning and contact tracing anyone who has visited the area.

The infected resident is currently isolated in hospital while being treated for an unrelated health condition.

The second case was a returned traveller now in hotel quarantine, with the state’s total now at 1687.

The state’s death toll remains at 19.

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PROBE INTO CEDAR MEATS CLUSTER

The coronavirus case of a Melbourne abattoir employee who authorities dismissed as being connected to a major outbreak at the meatworks is genomically linked.

Deputy Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen yesterday confirmed that the case on April 2 was linked to an April 23 case and a cluster that now totals 110.

Health authorities and the state government initially dismissed any link between the worker and the abattoir outbreak because he told contact traces he hadn’t been on site.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos had previously declared: “Unless the virus got into a car itself and went to Cedar Meats, there is no way that virus could have been connected to that worksite.”

Genetic testing had now revealed that the cases were linked, but Dr van Diemen said authorities still weren’t sure how the virus spread from the initial case.

“The cases are genomically linked to one another,” said.

“We still don’t have any information to tell us that that person did attend the workplace either before or after they were infectious, so we are looking at how the virus may have been spread around the community via other contacts, but it’s quite possible that we won’t ever know 100 per cent exactly how this virus has been introduced into that workplace.”

After zero new cases on Saturday, Victoria recorded four new cases yesterday taking the state’s tally to 1685.

One of the new cases is a household contact linked to an outbreak last month at Fawkner McDonald’s, while the other three are returned travellers.

Six people are in hospital, including two in intensive care, with 1593 people having recovered.

Across the country, there were just six new cases yesterday and 557 active cases.

The ACT recorded its first case of COVID-19 in over a month, a male aged in his 40s, who recently returned from overseas.

AUSSIES RESIGNED TO SLOW RETURN TO NORMALCY

The seriousness of the coronavirus crisis has sunk in for Australians, many believing a return to normality is seven to 12 months away.

Research reveals most people have accepted it will be a long time before they can live as they once did.

In a positive sign, feelings of hope are replacing panic and anxiety, the AustraliaNOW study shows.

But there remains ­dis­comfort about the prospect of using public transport and going to gyms or cinemas.

Quantum Market Research chief executive Imogen Randell said an easing of restrictions and the ability to visit family and friends had given people a psychological boost.

“In contrast to past weeks, when the national mood has been characterised by stress, anxiety and isolation, we have now entered a broadly positive post-lockdown mindset,” Ms Randell said.

“The lockdown period ­renewed enthusiasm for what we previously took for granted, prompting widespread enjoyment at the opportunity to ­reconnect. We are in the second phase of the crisis, where initial panic is over but residual concern remains.”

The study by Quantum Market Research, Hall & Partners and Clemenger BBDO, based on interviews with 1500 adults late last month, found:

ALMOST three in five believed we are at least seven months away from normal life. Some felt it would take as long as five years.

ONE in three was fearful about contracting the virus.

ALMOST two in three ­believed the worst was yet to come for the economy.

ALMOST one in three workers worried about losing their jobs or having hours cut.

Ms Randell said that despite high support for relaxed lockdowns, three in five people were uncomfortable about ­returning to public transport, gyms, cinemas or the theatre.

Half were also wary of going to bars, pubs and restaurants, and to galleries or museums.

“It’s hard for people to navigate social distancing etiquette in situations where previously they had a lot of close contact with people,” she said.

The pandemic is likely to have a lasting effect on spending habits.

Three in five of those with jobs, a decent household ­income or at least $5000 in savings intended to spend less money overall.

Those investing in property and the stock market felt most concerned about the economy.

– Karen Collier