Victorian crisis looms as majority of 55 new cases not in isolation
More Covid cases have emerged in Shepparton as Daniel Andrews warns the state is “right on the edge” of losing control of its outbreak.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Tap here for full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $5 per month for the first three months.
A coronavirus exposure site has emerged in Bendigo, as fears grow that the regions will be plunged into a full lockdown.
It comes after twelve cases of coronavirus were recorded in Shepparton.
Delecca’s, a machinery hire business, announced on social media their shop had been forced to close.
“It is with a heavy heart that we need to make this announcement,” the store posted online.
“Delecca’s has been identified as an exposure site. We are temporarily shutting doors until we all come back with our test results.
“All our staff are getting tested.”
The date of exposure was late Friday August 13, the company said.
Victoria on Friday reported 55 new locally acquired coronavirus infections, with 30 having been out in the community.
Of the new cases, 49 are linked to known outbreaks.
Just 25 have been in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period.
Two more cases were detected in hotel quarantine.
Goulburn Valley Health told local media six new cases were family members of the region’s index case, a man in his 30s, which was announced on Friday morning. But, it’s understood the new cases do not live in the same house with him.
Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar earlier confirmed the index case is a man aged in his 30s who has two children.
Read the full story here
FEARS FOR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Melbourne’s construction sector fears the government will shut down the entire industry in the city’s toughest lockdown yet.
The construction industry revelation comes after Premier Daniel Andrews hinted at a Covid briefing that additional restrictions could be applied.
Right now, up to 25 per cent of construction workers are still allowed to be on site at projects and housing builds around the city, but senior industry leaders have had concerns since Thursday that even these tradies could be ordered home.
It is not yet clear if any changes mooted would affect major government projects, such as the Metro Tunnel, or civil construction works preparing new housing estates for subdivision — a process which is conducted entirely outdoors.
ANGRY DAN WARNS RULES MAY TIGHTEN
Mr Andrews said the spike in Victoria’s cases was “a very significant challenge, making today a bad day.
“I have no restriction announcements or rule changes but I can’t rule that out, ministers and public health officials will be sitting down this afternoon, this evening and into tomorrow determining whether there is any more we can do in terms of rules and settings to try and pull this up.
“Earlier in the week we talked about being at a tipping point. This is very, very serious, very serious indeed.
“I can’t be any clearer with the people of Melbourne and more broadly the people of Victoria. If we have a weekend this weekend like last weekend, next week it will be like Sydney.”
“It’s now up to every single Victorian to make the best possible choices, so we don’t get overrun with cases, so we don’t get locked into the year, so our nurses are not having to deal with hundreds and hundreds of patients who need a machine to breathe.
“We are right on the edge of this getting away from us.”
In total, 28,601 vaccine doses were administered and 48,273 coronavirus tests were received.
FRIDAY’S CASES
• 14 cases all Al-Taqwa College contacts (all in isolation)
• 3 linked to Glenroy West Primary School
• 4 linked to Newport Football Club
• 2 linked to Newport Elite Gym
• 4 linked to Pizza Central in Malvern East
• 6 linked to St Kilda East cluster (four of which are linked to the engagement party)
• 1 linked to Carlton apartment complex at 510 Lygon St
• 2 linked to Altona North household contact
• 1 linked to Doncaster East mystery
• 13 linked to MyCentre Multicultural Youth facility in Broadmeadows
• 1 domestic cabin crew member who lives in Tullamarine (flying across country)
• 1 case in Pakenham
• 1 case in Point Cook
• 1 case in Port Melbourne
• 1 case in Brunswick
And 17 new cases in Shepparton announced on Friday.
MORE RESTRICTIONS NOT RULED OUT
Mr Andrews said “nothing is off the table” when it comes to further restrictions.
“There are always further options but I will not get into guessing games. Those decisions have not been made,” he said.
“But we cannot have this accumulation of mystery cases day in day out, and accumulation of people out and about being infectious.
“Nothing is off the table, I can’t rule out making further changes and a whole range of different areas.”
WHEN VCE STUDENTS WILL SIT GAT
Stressed VCE students will return to campus to sit the GAT on September 9, amid ongoing concerns about the mental health toll of 150 days of home schooling.
The state government has also confirmed students will return to school from August 30 to complete school-based assessments, including performance or practical assessments in groups of no more than ten students at a time.
But Education Minister James Merlino stopped short of bringing forward any early return of year 11 and 12s to campus, with all metro students only due to return to class-based learning when lockdown ends on September 2.
Read the full story here
DAN SLAMS PM’S PFIZER PLEDGE
Mr Andrews urged young Victorians not to cancel an appointment for an AstraZeneca shot, saying he was unsure whether Pfizer would be available to the 16-39-year-old age group.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced Pfizer shots would be available to that age group from August 30.
“If you’ve got a vaccination appointment then turn up and get it,” Mr Andrews said.
“I wouldn’t be banking on anything being here in two weeks. I haven’t seen that stock.
“Is it even here? I hope that by the end of the month 16-39-year-olds can get Pfizer. I don’t know if they will be able to.”
Mr Andrews said he had not been given any indication from the federal government when the shots would be made available.
“Why are they (appointments) not open? I don’t know,” he said.
“The federal government is entitled to make announcements but I’m also entitled to point out the facts.
“You can’t make a booking for this stuff, I haven’t seen it. Is it sitting in a warehouse? Is it arriving on a big military plane? I don’t know.”
AGE PROFILE DIFFERENT IN DELTA
Deputy chief health officer Ben Cowie said the age profile for the latest outbreak was much younger than previous outbreaks.
• 89 cases in the outbreak are children aged 10 and under
• 72 cases aged between 10-19
• 120 cases 20-39
• 56 cases 40-59
• 12 cases 60+
PM SAYS VACCINATION ON TRACK
One in two eligible Victorians has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Scott Morrison on Friday revealed the nation had recorded its second day of more than 300,000 inoculations.
Speaking before a meeting of national cabinet, the Prime Minister said vaccination rates were now hitting the marks needed to achieve the 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination targets and ease restrictions, irrespective of Covid-19 case numbers.
“Our national plan is a deal with Australians,” Mr Morrison said.
“If you’re persevering with the lockdowns, you’re taking the instructions, you’re making sacrifices, you’re getting tested, you’re isolating, you’re getting vaccinated.
“I’m committed to that plan and premiers and chief ministers have signed up to that plan. But they haven’t signed up with me, they have signed up with the Australian people.”
The nation’s expert immunisation panel is expected to finalise its interim advice on vaccinations for 12 to 15 year olds in the next week.
A youth vaccination plan is currently being developed in parallel with the national vaccination program.
Mr Morrison said vaccinations would give people exemptions to restrictions, not additional rights.
“By getting vaccinated, you are less of a public health risk than someone who was not vaccinated,” Mr Morrison said.
“You are less likely to get the virus, transmit the virus, get a serious illness, take up a bed in the hospital.”
COVID SHUTS KNOX POLICE STATION
A police station in Melbourne’s east was forced to close after an officer tested positive to Covid-19.
The police member, based at Knox Police Station, received notification on August 19 they had tested positive.
According to a statement from Victoria Police, the officer was immediately informed to safely isolate.
“The office area will be professionally cleaned with personnel asked not to attend the office during this time,” the statement read.
“For operational reasons, numbers will not be provided on how many officers and support staff were placed into quarantine as a precautionary measure.
“Victoria Police’s priority first and foremost is to ensure the safety of its people and the community.
“Victoria Police will work closely with the Department of Health as they conduct contact tracing to determine whether anyone else was in close contact with those who tested positive for coronavirus.”
FEARS FOR CHILDCARE CENTRES
A Broadmeadows childcare centre has been deemed a Tier 1 site after multiple positive cases were identified.
Anyone who attended MyCentre Child Care on August 12 between 7am – 4.15pm, August 13 between 7am – 2.50pm or August 17 between 7am – 9.30am must get tested and isolate for 14 days.
“We are very aware that this is a time of high anxiety for us all and may cause inconvenience to families and staff/contractors,” a letter to parents said.
“Thank you for your support, and we will provide any further information as soon as we receive any updates from DH (Department of Health).”
Berwick TwinkleStar Early Learning Centre director Hayli Tong said the prospect of childcare centres closing in Victoria was concerning.
“This will impact so many parents who are essential workers, they won’t be able to work if they don’t have other means of support to look after their kids,” Ms Tong said.
“I’ll also have 18 staff members out of a job and they will need government support. They have a mortgage and rent to pay.”
Ms Tong said her childcare centre had implemented strict Covid-safe measures.
“Any time we have a lockdown we don’t let any families inside the centre, we check temperatures every two hours and we maintain strict hygiene standards.
“Instead of closing us down completely, we hope they will just allow the children of essential and permitted workers on site.”
Georgie Dent, executive director of leading advocacy group The Parenthood, said the early learning crisis unfolding in Melbourne and Sydney was an “emergency” that could not go on without dire ramifications for educators, providers, children and families.
“The Prime Minister needs to recognise this crisis needs fixing,” Ms Dent said.
“The Delta strain has re-written the rules with growing rates of covid infection among children. We now need a strong, urgent federal government response to provide a financial survival package for the early learning sector or we risk losing childcare services, places and educator jobs.
“Without immediate action, providers are being squeezed to breaking point and many families could lose access to early learning after the lockdown. This could have a damaging effect on children’s learning and development and make it harder for parents to work from home or return to work.”
MELBOURNE BUS DRIVERS IN ISOLATION
Hundreds of bus drivers have also been sent into isolation after their workplace was deemed an exposure site, with services in Melbourne’s west cancelled over a driver shortage.
The 291 drivers employed by bus operator Transdev, are based at the Sunshine West Depot and have been tested because it is located within the Sunshine West industrial precinct – which has been identified as a Tier 2 exposure site.
COVID CASES IN GOULBURN VALLEY
Seventeen cases of Covid were recorded in Shepparton on Friday.
The city’s first positive Covid case is a member of a local primary school community.
A spokesman from Catholic Education Sandhurst confirmed a member of the St Mel’s Primary School community had tested positive.
Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp confirmed the new case had been recorded 190km north of Melbourne.
The first case, reported on Friday morning, comes after health authorities revealed there had been repeated wastewater detections.
Mr Sharp said the patient was at home and isolating, while contact tracers raced to identify any areas of concern.
St Mel’s Primary School in Shepparton was deserted before 2pm, after parents were told earlier to pick up their children so a deep clean of the school could take place.
Students had also left Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s McGuire campus, which has been confirmed as a Tier 1 site.
The drive-through testing site that was established at the Shepparton Sports Precinct was already at capacity within 25 minutes of its opening at 2pm.
A healthcare worker said people would be tested by 6pm, when the site is due to close.
Four rows of cars were seen banked about 100m from the testing tents.
Workers were still assembling the tents at the site to increase capacity.
Only two of the four are conducting tests.
SYD LOCKDOWN EXTENDED, RULES TIGHTEN
Greater Sydney residents will be in lockdown until the at least the end of September as NSW recorded 642 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Friday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the extension this morning, as she announced “areas of concern” — local government areas is southwestern western Sydney — would be subject to curfew, starting on Monday, that will run from 9pm to 5am.
It means people will not be able to leave there homes between these hours unless it is for authorised work or emergencies.
Residents of these areas will also be limited to one hour of exercise each day, and more retailers will have to close except for click and collect orders.
Read the full story here.
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER REFUSES TEST
Dozens of Melbourne families will be forced to repeat their two-week quarantine after a Glenroy kindergarten teacher potentially exposed to Covid-19 refused a test.
About 50 families associated with the York St kindergarten, located on the Glenroy West Primary School site, will be forced to complete another fortnight in quarantine after the teacher’s test refusal.
The Herald Sun has been told the teacher, who was on site between August 6 and August 12, won’t face disciplinary action because it’s not illegal to refuse a Covid test.
But the Premier said submitting for a test was the “least you can do”.
“If you’re asked to test because there’s a sense you may have the virus, and we want to rule you out … but also look after the safety of people you’ve been with, some of whom might be little kids, I don’t think that’s such a big ask,” he said.
As Melburnians notched up their 200th day stuck at home, Mr Andrews said the city’s new hard lockdown, which had shuttered businesses, closed playgrounds and seen a curfew reimposed, would “work”.
“It is a package of measures, and it took us from more than 700 cases a day last year to zero, and it will work again,” he said. But health authorities remain on high alert with mystery cases in Ascot Vale, Glenroy and Doncaster.
Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said he was confident two of the cases would be linked to outbreaks after contact tracers had established geographical links and leads.
But there remains significant concerns as to where the person in Doncaster was exposed to the virus.
Repeated wastewater detections in a Sunshine West industrial precinct between August 8 and August 17 have raised fears a person who works in the area is infected.
Three more cases were linked to a Malvern East pizza shop, while a further three social contacts of people that attended the illegal Caulfield North engagement party contracted the virus.
Four attendees of the now-infamous party – the engaged couple and the parents of the bride-to-be – have each been slapped with fines of $5452.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said Zoom interviews between police and other partygoers would soon begin, and more fines would be issued.
All attendees had so far been “very co-operative”, he said, despite the investigation being hampered due to interviewees being in isolation.
Police issued 12 fines for private gatherings, and 13 for curfew breaches on Wednesday.
Just 5 per cent of the state’s 529 active cases between July 12 and August 18 had been vaccinated.
PRIMARY SCHOOL CLOSES AFTER POSITIVE CASE
A positive case has been identified at Dallas Brooks Community Primary School on Thursday evening.
In a letter seen by the Herald Sun, principal Valerie Karaitiana told parents and staff that the school and its outside school hours care service had been closed and will undergo a deep clean.
“This means no on-site supervision will be available,” Ms Karaitiana said.
“While the Department of Health conducts its investigation, staff and students and members of their households must stay home and limit their movements until advised otherwise.”
“If you or anyone in your family develop even the mildest of symptoms, please get tested.”
Remote and flexible learning will continue for students as normal.
No exposure sites have been listed in Dallas but Jack Roper Reserve playground and Lahinch Street playground – recently listed Tier 2 sites – are located 4km from the school.
COVID CASE VISITS FRANKSTON VAX CENTRE
People who got their jab in Frankston may have been exposed to the virus and should get tested.
A person who received their jab in Frankston this week has since tested positive to the virus.
Peninsula Health is urging anyone who visited the Community Vaccination Hub at the Bayside Centre between 11.30am and 12.45pm on Monday to get tested as soon as possible and isolate until they receive a negative result.
A statement on the Peninsula Health website revealed that the venue had been declared a Tier 2 exposure site after the infectious person tested positive on Thursday.
“While they had no symptoms while at the Vaccination Hub, they subsequently developed symptoms and tested positive to the virus today,” the statement says.
For the full story click here.
COVID SCARE AT PUBLIC HOUSING TOWER
Residents of a Collingwood public housing tower will need to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result, after Covid fragments were detected in the building’s wastewater.
240 Wellington Street has been declared a Tier 2 exposure site but is yet to appear on the health department’s list of exposure sites.
The period of interest stretches from August 15 to 18, according to the CHO’s Thursday update.
It is likely the health department will deploy the same response as it did at 480 Lygon Street, another public housing complex, in Carlton.
A pop-up clinic was set up nearby to test residents, with two later returning positive results.
ALL YOUNG AUSSIE NOW JAB ELIGIBLE
All Australians aged 16 to 39 will be able to access the Pfizer jab from August 30, in a long-awaited expansion of the vaccine program.
Amid rising infection rates among children, Prime Minister Scott Morrison also says he wants kids over 12 to be vaccinated this year.
Some 309,010 doses were administered in the 24 hours to Thursday, the biggest day yet.
One in two Australians have now had at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 28.2 per cent are fully vaccinated, as the authorities push towards targets of 70 per cent and 80 per cent to reopen the country and reduce the reliance on lockdowns.
All adults are currently eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine through GPs, pharmacies and state-run vaccination hubs, although the expert immunisation panel has said it prefers under-60s to get Pfizer.
Mr Morrison said Pfizer would be available to adults aged 16 to 39 from the end of the month, although he asked that age group to delay making bookings until next week, when more details would be provided.
Asked if he was concerned people would cancel their AstraZeneca appointments and wait for Pfizer, Mr Morrison declared: “The best vaccine you can get is the one that’s available right now.”
About 220,000 children aged 12 to 15 are currently eligible to be vaccinated, including those with underlying conditions, who live in remote areas, and are of Indigenous heritage.
The federal government is expecting the expert immunisation panel to deliver its final advice on vaccinating all children in that age group within the next week.
“I am keen to see that happen this year. I think it’s important that happens this year,” Mr Morrison said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said a “pretty simple” plan was in place to administer the jab to children, who will be eligible through GPs, pharmacies and state-run clinics.
As revealed by the Herald Sun, Mr Hunt said many state governments would also offer school-based vaccination programs.
It came as a major UK study which looked at more than 700,000 fully vaccinated adults found more than half of those who became infected with the Delta strain still developed symptoms including a cough, fever, and loss of taste and smell.
But while the efficacy of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca began to wane over time, both still provided strong protection against severe disease and death.
From later this year AstraZeneca will be branded as Vaxzevria in Australia, so its name here matches that of the same jab overseas.
WEIMAR APOLOGISES TO JEWISH COMMUNITY
The state’s Covid boss has apologised to Melbourne’s Jewish community after drawing added attention to their faith during a daily press conference.
While detailing a mystery outbreak centred around the St Kilda area on Wednesday, Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar referred to the Orthodox Jewish community as a wide group of people who had been affected in the outbreak.
Mr Weimar referenced a sex worker, accountants, architects and a pizza shop employee and the Orthodox Jewish community as making up the cluster.
In a statement obtained by the Herald Sun, Mr Weimar said: “I am sorry for my poor choice of words (on Wednesday).”
Read the full story here.
WIGGLES HELP SAVE COVID STRICKEN SARAH’S LIFE
A heartwarming team effort from nurses, doctors and the Wiggles has saved a young Melbourne woman in intensive care with Covid.
Read the full story here.
PUSH TO GIVE KIDS RAPID COVID TESTS
Leading experts are calling for rapid antigen Covid-19 testing in Victorian schools to avoid further disruptions amid ongoing outbreaks.
It comes as teachers and school staff in California will now be required to be fully vaccinated or undergo weekly tests.
Since March, schools in the UK have offered twice weekly rapid tests to all pupils, with those testing positive having to self-isolate, along with close contacts, for 10 days.
More than one million Victorian students have lost up to two terms of face-to-face learning – more than in any other state – since the start of the pandemic.
Read the full story here.
QR SIGN-IN MADE EASIER
Victorians will no longer need to scan a QR code to enter their favourite venues under a new feature of the Service Victoria app.
The favourites feature, to be unveiled on Friday, will allow users to create a personalised list of commonly visited venues.
It’s hoped the check-in process will become smoother by removing the need to scan a QR code, also helping to reduce congestion around busy check-in points.
A person’s six most recent favourites will show on their home screen, but a complete list of venues can be accessed by tapping the favourite list.
The new function is optional, and an individual favourite list can only be seen by the person using the phone.
All data collected by the system is encrypted and is only accessed by authorities in the event of an outbreak for contact tracing purposes.
MOULIN ROUGE SET TO OPEN NEXT MONTH
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is planning to open at the Regent Theatre from September 14, 10 days after opening night was originally scheduled.
Producer Carmen Pavlovic, chief executive of Global Creatures, says it is dependent on Government approval but the aim is to start previews for the big budget musical next month.
“Our set is in the Regent Theatre, the costumes are hung and the cast are rehearsed — as soon as we can have an audience, we are ready,’’ Pavlovic said.
“I have to say we have been incredibly humbled by the way Victorians have embraced Moulin Rouge! before it’s even opened.
“We lost our August performances due to lockdown, and I was so touched by how many of our patrons who had their tickets cancelled re-booked because they wanted to support the show, and get live entertainment going again.
“For us the key is how to ‘unlock’ after a lockdown. In practice that means having enough notice to get the cast and crew re-rehearsed, and a workable audience capacity to open to.”
Whether there can be a full house in the 2000-seat theatre is still a waiting game but Melbourne’s lockdown is due to be eased on September 2.
Pavlovic is hoping the musical will help regenerate the city but it will need close to capacity — around 75 per cent — to make it viable.
The Broadway hit, starring Alinta Chidzey and Des Flanagan, cancelled five preview shows in August after successfully moving some cast and crew out of Sydney.
— With additional reporting by Suzan Delibasic and Jade Gailberger
Health boss who played key role in Victoria’s Covid response stands down
The Department of Health secretary who became a public figure making tough and controversial decisions during the pandemic will depart amid a leadership reshuffle.
Sutton dragged into legal fight on cancelled Robbie Williams gig
A war of words has broken out about former Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s involvement in the decision to pull the pin on Robbie Williams’ Grand Prix concert.