Another Victorian dies of COVID-19 as cases jump overnight
A Victorian man has died of coronavirus as the state’s cases jump once again. But in a promising development, no new cases have been linked to the outbreak that ripped through a Melbourne meatworks.
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Coronavirus has claimed the life of another Victorian, bringing the state’s death toll to 19.
Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen confirmed this morning that a man in his 60s died in hospital.
Ten new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed overnight, with Victoria’s total standing at 1602.
Of the new cases, four were travellers in hotel quarantine and three cases are through community transmission.
The three remaining cases are still under investigation.
None of the new cases are linked to the Cedar Meats cluster, the outbreak at McDonald’s Fawkner or aged care facilities.
It comes as doctors and early childhood experts say playgrounds are safe and should be open to allow children to play.
The Victorian government is refusing to reopen playgrounds despite the Federal Government including outdoor play spaces in stage one of their road map out of COVID-19.
All other states except Western Australia have opened playgrounds.
In a bizarre twist, the State Government has confirmed school playgrounds will be open when students return to classrooms next week — but community playgrounds and skate parks will remain closed.
Australian National University infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said it was “ridiculous”.
“If you can be at the playground at school, you should be able to go to the playground in the park,” he said.
“Children are low risk, outside is safer than inside and sunlight seems to be able to kill the virus so playgrounds are probably one of the safer places to be. I cannot see any reason in Australia, with such low rates of community transmission, not to have outside playgrounds open.”
Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett, said “children in playgrounds are low risk and adults who are social distancing are low risk”.
“The evidence is still not there to suggest children have a higher risk in terms of infection or transmission of the virus,” Prof Bennett said.
“This is very reassuring. Even children sharing surfaces that won’t be clean is still not a risk. The risk is much more with adults supervising them.”
Prof Bennett said it was important parents and carers kept social distancing rules while at playgrounds and adhered to good hygiene practices.
Ben Deery, a lecturer in early childhood education at the University of Melbourne, said a return to playgrounds would be positive for Victorian children.
“The benefit of allowing kids out on the playground outweighs any sort of risk,” Dr Deery said.
“Because we have been able to keep the number of cases so low and there is some evidence child transmission is fairly low, it seems like a cautious but appropriate thing to do.”
Education and developmental psychologist Raelene Dundon said a return to playgrounds was an important step in resuming normal life for children.
“It’s allowing kids to get back into that routine they were doing before. The physical activity involved in playing in playgrounds is great for development, but also connection with peers,” she said.
Jill Hnatiuk, a lecturer in physical activity and health from the Deakin University Institute of Physical Activity and Nutrition, said playgrounds “were a key space where children get their physical activity”.
“Jumping and climbing are important aspects of children’s development,” she said.
“Playgrounds offer the opportunity for this. As soon as possible it would be great to see playgrounds and parks open balanced by health implications,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the government “needed to see the impact of the first small steps before we look at any further easing of restrictions. We will have more to say soon”.
But Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said Premier Daniel Andrews “must explain to Victorian mums and dads why children are prohibited from using playgrounds when it has been deemed safe by other states”.
“National Cabinet included lifting bans on playgrounds in the first phase of reopening. Why does Daniel Andrews think it’s safe to go to a department store but not a playground?”
Natalie Codling, a mother of two from Kew, said her children Kate, 8, and Tom, 5, and their friends were using their local park to ride their bikes as they had not been able to use the play equipment.
“The playground should be open. It’s down to parents to make sure their children wipe their hands before they play and once they get off. Everyone needs to look out for everyone else,” she said.
Tristan Wilson, a father of one from Port Melbourne, said his daughter Anetta, 3, was keen to play again.
“Every single day she goes for a walk and she heads to the park and wants to know when she can play there again,” he said.
OUR LITTLE AUSSIE BOTTLERS
Parents are being told to send children to school with water bottles as drinking fountains are turned off to help contain coronavirus.
Students will begin returning to schools from Tuesday.
Advice issued by the Department of Education encouraged students to “bring their own water bottle for use (and refilling) at school”.
“It is recommended that students do not drink directly from drinking fountains at this time,” the department said.
Education Minister James Merlino also said on Friday schools would roll out a raft of new hygiene guidelines.
“Students will be
provided guidance around hygiene, washing your hands before and after playing and before and after eating, using hand sanitiser,” Mr Merlino said.
VIRUS CASES LINKED TO ABBATOIR CLIMB TO 111
A coronavirus outbreak at Cedar Meats is continuing to drive the state’s growing tally of cases.
Victoria recorded another 12 cases on Friday, including five linked to the Brooklyn abattoir cluster that has grown to 111.
Four of the new cases were people in hotel quarantine and a further two cases were detected by community testing.
Of Victoria’s 1593 cases, 93 remain active, with 10 people in hospital, including five in intensive care.
A resident at an aged-care home in Bundoora feared to have contracted coronavirus returned a third negative test.
It cleared the site of infection and allowed staff who had been isolating after close contact with the resident to return to work next week.
A total of 214 residents and staff have been tested, with all results negative to COVID-19.
Despite the negative tests the home will remain in lockdown for a full 14 days.
Victoria has recorded more than 230 extra COVID-19 cases this month — more than all other states combined — amid a massive testing blitz.
It comes as NSW on Friday announced it would allow restaurants and cafes to seat 50 customers by June 1, when Victoria reopens eateries for 20 diners.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said gyms and beauty salons would be permitted to reopen “in the next month or so”.
“We’re still working on all of those but we’re not talking September, no way in the world,” he said. “We’re looking at all these restrictions coming off in the next month or so”.
GIVE HYGIENE A HAND
Experts are urging Victorians to take hand washing lessons before returning to work and school.
Hand Hygiene Australia, based at Austin Health, on Friday released a free online training tool to encourage people to stay vigilant as COVID-19 restrictions lessen.
Company director Professor Lindsay Grayson said it was important people “step up” when it comes to hand hygiene and protect both themselves and others.
“We know hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of diseases like COVID-19,” Prof Grayson said.
“With restrictions lifting and people able to socialise more freely, it’s important everyone realises how small, everyday tasks will help to save lives.”
— With Alanah Frost
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