Four new Covid cases; anger over new Melbourne restrictions
Melburnians are being urged to keep wearing masks outdoors as authorities issued a warning for these suburbs after viral fragments were found in wastewater.
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This article was published on Thursday, June 10. Click here for Friday’s rolling coverage of Victoria’s Covid cases and the end of lockdown in Melbourne.
The easing of restrictions in Victoria will go ahead as planned at 11.59pm on Thursday but masks will continue to be mandatory outdoors in all circumstances in Melbourne.
There are 78 active cases in Victoria.
Four new cases of coronavirus have been detected in the community overnight, but the link of acquisition is not yet known.
The four new locally acquired cases are from the same household but investigations into the acquisition source are under way, the Department of Health said.
The cases — a man in his 80s, a woman in her 70s, a man in his 50s and a man in his 20s — are from the same household in Reservoir.
Deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng said the first positive case recorded overnight was a man in his 80s, who was tested on June 9 and got his result on Wednesday.
The other members of the household tested positive on Wednesday also.
“We had already tested several close contacts of these cases outside of the household and they’ve all come back negative but obviously will remain in quarantine,” Prof Cheng said.
Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said: “I’m pleased to note that one of the individuals who returned the first positive test only turned symptomatic on June 7 and was tested the day after and returned that test result yesterday.
“Their swiftness in acting has been so important for us to identify that group quickly and in that family unit, there were earlier tests taken as well.”
Prof Cheng said: “These new cases are really the reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet.”
He urged Melburnians to keep wearing masks.
“Masks are obviously a very small thing to do and they are effective,” he said.
“We know there have been transmissions from relatively brief contact, people who don’t know each other who haven’t been in the same place.
“As people move from outdoors to indoors we want them to be wearing that mask. I think it is also a reminder to everyone that we do have active cases in the community and we want to stop every last transmission.”
“Twenty times less likely (to transmit infection) doesn’t mean it is zero. There is still a risk and there have been transmissions documented outdoors.”
He called on Victorians to check in with their phone using QR codes wherever they went and get tested if they had any symptoms, especially if they have visited any exposure sites.
More than 23,500 tests were carried out on Wednesday and more than 20,000 vaccines administered but acting Premier James Merlino said the state could do better.
“We need to continue to see the testing numbers that we’ve seen over the last week or so,” he said.
“Isolate until you have a negative result and if you are eligible to be vaccinated, please book as soon as you can.”
“We are moving ahead but we are on high alert,” Mr Merlino said.
“This is not over yet.”
VIRUS ALERT FOR PASCOE VALE, SCORESBY AND VERMONT
Three new positive detections today of COVID-19 viral fragments were found in wastewater samples taken in the Pascoe Vale, Scoresby and Vermont areas.
The Department of Health on Thursday evening said the new detections are “of interest” as there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases in those areas.
“While the unexpected detections may be due to someone who has had COVID-19 that is no longer infectious continuing to ‘shed’ the virus or it may be due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case,” a statement read.
MORE EXPOSURE SITES ADDED
Exposure sites linked to the Reservoir cases include Marco Fine Foods and Groceries in Reservoir, the BP servo in Thomastown, the Coles at Bundoora Square, and the Bunnings in Thomastown.
Anyone who visited these sites at the listed times on the DHHS website must urgently get tested and quarantine for 14 days.
Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar urged the public to check the DHHS website for full details for any sites they may intend to visit.
“I urge you if you have been and the exposure sites or in the area, please go and get tested today,” he said. “That is our absolute priority.”
Prof Cheng said: “We are still in early days at looking at this cluster in Reservoir. I think we would be more comfortable if we could identify a link that would link it to another cluster, and therefore that would resolve that mystery as well.”
A Bunnings warehouse, Coles supermarket and an aged care facility are also among new alerts added to Victoria’s list of Covid-19 exposure sites.
The health department issued the tier 1 and tier 2 health alerts on Wednesday night following one new local case of coronavirus — that case was linked to a previously known outbreak and was already quarantining.
More than a dozen tier 1 alerts were also issued for the Arcare Maidstone aged care facility.
Read the list of updated Covid-19 exposure sites here.
MELBOURNE NO LONGER A HOT SPOT
Federal chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly confirmed on Thursday that the Commonwealth’s hot-spot ruling on Melbourne would end on Thursday night, at the same time as lockdown rules would be lifted.
He said that would mean an end to the new Covid-19 support payment, which is worth up to $500 a week for Victorians who have been forced out of work.
Prof Kelly said that was a matter for the federal government.
TESTING SITES CLOSED DUE TO STORM
Several coronavirus testing centres have been shut down in Victoria after wild storm lashed the state overnight.
The Victorian health department said severe weather was affecting “a number of testing and vaccination centres” so people should plan ahead.
“Some testing centres are temporarily suspended due to weather and damage,” the department warned.
See which sites are affected here
INFECTED MELBOURNE COUPLE IN QLD
The two positive Covid cases discovered in Queensland are a couple both in their 40s from metropolitan Melbourne.
Prof Cheng said they left home early on June 1, travelled to New South Wales, and then to the Sunshine Coast, arriving on June 5.
“We understand from testing that has been performed that they are probably both late in their infection,” he said.
“They’ve tested positive but their serology is also positive.
“While we can’t pinpoint the source of this infection, we’re aware that one of the cases had checked in to the Craigieburn Central shopping centre on May 23, so at this stage, we’re not sure if either of them might have been in the shopping centre or at exposure sites close by but (we are) noting that we’ve had nine cases linked to that shopping centre to date.”
Prof Cheng said this reinforced the message that authorities had been repeating for several days, for anyone who has been to the Craigieburn Central shopping centre who had any symptoms to get tested urgently.
Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities were “very concerned” that the couple were at the end of their infectious period while in Queensland and probably most infectious while in Victoria and NSW.
“The focus for the team is to get as much information as possible (from the couple) to understand their movements (and) potential source of acquisition.
“We want to link it to one of the existing clusters that we know about.
“Right now, we have next to no information to run on.”
Mr Weimar said authorities were trying to have a “coordinated approach” to questioning the couple.
“We are all after the same thing.
“We want a reasonable discussion between Queensland, New South Wales and ourselves to get the right information.”
ANGER OVER NEW RESTRICTIONS
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s hotels and restaurants say they’re likely to keep doors shut under “ludicrous” new density caps, as the city takes small steps out of the lockdown.
Some operators have declared they will open – despite making a loss – saying they need to get distraught staff back on deck amid fears the fabric of Victoria’s dining scene is being destroyed by the crawl out of lockdown.
Acting Premier James Merlino announced on Wednesday that hospitality venues would be permitted to reopen from Friday – but capped at 100 patrons, and only 50 seated indoors.
The five reasons to leave home will also be scrapped and the 10km travel limit increased to 25km, but visiting regional Victoria remains forbidden.
Visitors won’t be allowed into private homes, and outdoor gatherings will be capped at just 10 people, despite auctions going ahead with 50.
Flagging that restrictions could be further eased and the divide between regional Victoria and Melbourne pulled down from June 18, Mr Merlino said the state was making “big steps” on the way out of lockdown.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the news was good but wasn’t “the snapback we were hoping for”.
“We went fast in, but we are crawling out,” he said.
“While most businesses across the state can now open, we need to see further easing of restrictions to enable all businesses to get back to viable trade as soon as possible to keep jobs, businesses, livelihoods, culture and prosperity alive in Victoria.”
Chris Lucas, whose Lucas Restaurants includes the popular Chin Chin, said he would reopen on Friday – but only for the mental wellbeing of his staff.
“It’s disheartening for our workers and for our city. It’s very clear that this government puts its own political needs over those of everyday working people. It seems committed to propagating a constant campaign of fear and negative messaging along with damaging lockdowns all the way to the next election.”
Mark O’Reilly, who runs venues in the CBD and suburbs said he would try to open all his venues expect for one, which has a capacity of 585 people and was currently unviable.
“We are opening three venues at a loss. We need to get staff back,” he said.
“I can’t get them all back, and I feel for them. I have had some phone calls from people very distressed.”
Wes Lambert, chief executive of Restaurant & Catering Australia, said the cautious reopening would “lead to small businesses closing” and that some industry participants were considering moving to NSW where they would have more certainty about pandemic responses.
VIC FAMILY BREAKS LOCKDOWN, FLIES TO NZ
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there are consequences for people who break the trans-Tasman bubble rules, even if they don’t end up being fined or jailed.
The NZ Herald reported that a group of three people from Melbourne have been put into managed isolation in New Zealand after misleading officials about where they were travelling from.
It is understood the trio, who are resident in Australia, planned to attend a funeral during their trip to New Zealand.
They drove to Sydney and then flew to Auckland, and were caught at the border after trying to deceive officials. They will now have to pay for their 14-day quarantine stay.
It appears they broke the trans-Tasman bubble rules – which could lead to a $4000 fine or six months in jail – as well as the Victoria lockdown rules.
Melbourne is subject to a two-week lockdown as the city battles to contain a community Covid-19 cluster.
Restrictions are in place for anyone from Victoria wanting to travel to other parts of Australia.
Ms Ardern said that their mandatory stay in quarantine was a punishment, regardless of whether police decided to charge them.
Asked why they shouldn’t be charged, she said “there are consequences”.
“To anyone considering breaching the rules that we have in place – in this case, the family has been picked up, and they’ve been put into a managed isolation facility.
“As for fines, those decisions do sit elsewhere.”
CORONAVIRUS IN BENDIGO SEWAGE
Thousands of regional Victorians are being urged to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms after viral fragments were found in sewage in Bendigo.
Residents and recent visitors to the suburbs of California Gully, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Huntly, Jackass Flat, Maiden Gully, Marong, North Bendigo and Sailors Gully between June 3 and 7 should get tested if any Covid-19 symptoms develop.
The Victorian Department of Health said the detection of fragments of coronavirus was of “interest” as there were no confirmed cases in the area.
“While the unexpected detections may be due to someone who has had Covid-19 that is no longer infectious continuing to shed the virus, it may be due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case,” the health department said in a statement.
“The wastewater testing program is designed as an early warning system and a cautious approach is always taken when these detections are found.”
GYMS DESPERATE FOR GREEN LIGHT
Gym owners are pleading with the state government to let them reopen after the industry was left out of the list of businesses that could reopen in metropolitan Melbourne.
Chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton said fitness centres were still high risk sites.
Both small operators and large chains argue they can run safely and warn they will have spent at least three weeks without income.
Ian Jensen-Muir, chief executive of Genesis Health and Fitness, said the announcement for Melbourne was a blow to thousands of gyms.
“The revenue for these businesses drops to zero as soon as lockdowns are initiated, leaving staff without shifts, business owners with no income and members with no access to a service that is a critical part of their physical and mental health,” he said.
“We stand with others in the industry and demand answers from the government as to why gyms are being singled out as presenting a higher level of risk than other businesses.”
“A week for a small business can be the difference between surviving, or not,” he said.
Drew Westfield, owner of gym franchise GRIPT, said the state’s initial $5000 business support payment was less than 10 per cent of earnings and just enough to pay one full-time employee for three weeks.
BORDER RULES EASE AMID COVID SCARE
Hopes are rising Melburnians will be allowed to escape to Queensland during school holidays as the sunshine state eases border restrictions to regional Victoria.
From 1am on Friday, Victorians outside of Melbourne will be able to enter Queensland without completing mandatory hotel quarantine.
It could pave the way for Melbourne residents to follow suit from late next week, with the city about seven days behind the easing of restrictions in regional Victoria.
While other states failed to ease border restrictions, it is expected they could be relaxed in line with local restrictions, barring another major outbreak.
Victorians are currently allowed to enter NSW but must self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. SA, WA, Tasmania and the NT remain closed to Victoria unless an exemption is granted and hotel quarantine is undertaken.
Queensland’s border news came as police launched an inquiry into how a Melbourne couple, including a Covid-infected woman, crept into the Sunshine Coast despite Victoria’s strict lockdown.
Dr Young said the 44-year-old woman left Melbourne on June 1 with her partner, more than four days after the lockdown began, and drove through NSW before arriving in Queensland on June 5.
It’s believed the couple may have chosen to travel via Goondiwindi because of a strong police presence, including mobile patrols and automated number plate recognition, on the Gold Coast border.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said Queensland police would investigate how and why the pair were allowed to enter the state.
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