80 new cases, Daniel Andrews lectures infected Victorians
Emergency relief is being sent to Shepparton as the city grinds to a halt with thousands in quarantine, while many young Victorians eager for Covid jabs were turned away from the state’s hubs.
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Victoria has recorded its largest spike in Covid cases since the second wave, with 80 new infections overnight.
Those include 13 mystery infections, and 41 who were in the community while infectious.
Premier Daniel Andrews launched into a spray as it emerged some infected Victorians waited more than a week before getting tested.
“One of the commonsense, practical things you can do if you have symptoms today: Get tested today,” he said.
“Don’t, for heaven’s sake, as some have, wait eight days and literally infect everybody you come near in that period.
“Please don’t visit friends or family. The visitor that no one knows about is the coronavirus.
“You are taking it with you to the people that you love. You don’t want them to get sick. Don’t act in a selfish and irresponsible way.”
In an impassioned plea, Mr Andrews added: “I don’t reckon I can be any plainer or simple than that. The longer people break the rules, the longer the rules will be in place. It’s really simple.
“Please, please, make the right choices, like millions of Victorians are. It’s always that smaller group of people who, you know, they have just got to make better choices.”
Mr Andrews said younger people were driving infections by delaying a test, urging them to get tested as soon as symptoms emerged.
“You would have to say that the bias tends towards a younger group, and if people aren’t happy with me being honest about that, they will need to come to terms with that, because it’s a fact,” he said.
“There are, in this outbreak, some younger people who are waiting too long to get tested.”
VICTORIA’S LATEST CASES
• Twenty-five linked to Broadmeadows/Al-Taqwa/CS Square, all in quarantine
• Twenty linked to the Shepparton/Royal Melbourne Hospital outbreak, none whom were fully isolating
• Nine linked to Altona North and Newport, all in quarantine
• Nine household contacts of existing cases, all in quarantine
• Two linked to St Kilda East, all in quarantine
• Thirteen mystery infections
Forty-six Victorians are in hospital with Covid-19, eight of whom are on a ventilator.
More than 56,000 people were tested for Covid on Wednesday, while nearly 33,000 Victorians rolled up their sleeves for a Covid vaccine.
YOUNG TURNED AWAY FROM JAB HUBS
Desperate young people who have waited hours at the state’s mass vaccination hubs in Melbourne are being turned away in droves, as demand for the Pfizer jab soars.
It comes just one day after the state expanded its bookings for the 16-39 age group, with a reported 100,000 young Victorians booking in for the jab on Wednesday alone.
Young Victorians eager to get vaccinated crashed the booking website twice, and those attempting to use the phone booking system reported huge delays.
Read the full story here.
HUGE RUSH FOR VACCINE BOOKINGS
Massive queues returned to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre vaccine hub on Thursday, with a long line stretching down Spencer St before doors even opened at 8am.
Pfizer eligibility was expanded to Victorians aged between 16 and 39 on Wednesday, sparking a huge rush for bookings.
Mr Andrews admitted the booking and vaccination system was struggling to cope with demand as tens of thousands of Victorians tried to book an appointment, but urged people to spend their time trying to secure a booking.
He said his own daughter Grace took a full day to find an appointment for a jab - not securing one until “dinner time on Wednesday” after trying on the booking website since 6am.
“I would encourage people to go back and stick to it, because it is the way out of restrictions and out of our hospitals being overwhelmed and our way back to normal life,” Mr Andrews said.
“You have to be patient. There is no choice, but there are appointments that can be made.”
ELITE SCHOOLS OFFERS PRIVATE JABS
A Bayside private school is planning to vaccinate its year 12 cohort next week, as other schools scramble to secure supplies for their students.
St Leonard’s College in Brighton East will vaccinate its VCE students on September 3, the Herald Sun has learned.
A parent from the school said she “couldn’t understand why this isn’t done for all schools”.
“Seems like a completely logical solution if they are serious about prioritising VCE students,” she said.
Read the full story here.
SUPPORT FOR SHEPPARTON AS CASES SET TO RISE
Of the 80 new cases reported in Victoria on Thursday, 20 are associated with the Shepparton/ Royal Melbourne Hospital cluster, none of whom were in isolation during their infectious period, despite a number having been identified as close contacts.
As of Thursday, the Shepparton outbreak stands at 67 cases.
Daniel Andrews thanked the 16,000 Shepparton residents who will spend two weeks in home quarantine, but authorities are sure more cases will be recorded in coming days.
Support is being provided to primary close contacts isolating as part of the outbreak and emergency relief packages are available for those required to self-isolate if they have no network of family or friends for support.
More than 265 food relief packs have been delivered to Shepparton in the past 48 hours and more are being delivered on a daily basis.
Authorities say requests for assistance can be made to the coronavirus hotline.
Nearly half of all staff at Shepparton’s biggest employer have been forced into home isolation.
It was exactly the situation SPC boss Hussein Rifai anticipated weeks ago, sparking his decision to become the first company in Australia to mandate the Covid-19 jab among its employees.
Mr Rifai said 48 per cent of his employees at the Shepparton plant were isolating.
The town has now ground to a halt, resulting in the Premier asking for ADF support to help manage the outbreak.
Regional public servants are also being redirected to help the town.
“Every part of life in Shepparton and across the Goulbourn Valley has been impacted by the fact that many people are not at work,” Mr Andrews said.
“We do not want people from Melbourne going there at the moment for fear of taking the virus there.
“But regional Victorian public servants going back, dropping off food parcels, doing the practical but very important things to assist the community of Shepparton and give them the support they require in their time of need.”
Mr Andrews also said he wanted to thank the people of the town for the “amazing way” in which they had banded together in an attempt to curb the spread.
He has ruled out “blanket testing” for the town, but authorities have encouraged anyone who is symptomatic or associated with the exposure sites to come out and get tested.
NSW RECORDS YET ANOTHER GRIM DAY
Another 1029 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in NSW overnight, showing the crisis is far from over.
Three more people have also died, including a man in his 30s, none of whom were vaccinated.
Just 91 of the latest infections was in isolation for their entire infectious period.
It comes as the Covid-ravaged state prepares to ease some restrictions on Monday, despite extending regional NSW’s lockdown for a further fortnight.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said hot spot LGAs made up 80 per cent of the latest infections.
“The suburbs of concern prepresent 80 per cent of cases in those areas,” the premier said.
YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE UP BULK OF CASES
The state’s Covid-19 crisis has been declared “an outbreak of young people”, with children and teenagers making up more than a third of cases.
The latest analysis of the state’s recent outbreaks shows the age of victims is becoming increasingly younger, underlining the importance of making vaccines available to that demographic.
Of the 888 confirmed coronavirus cases in Victoria between June 1 and August 23, 37 per cent were aged under 20 – including 132 cases among those aged 0-9 and another 152 cases for those aged 10-19.
With a further 164 cases detected among Victorians in their 20s, a whopping 58 per cent of the state’s recent cases have been under 30.
Only 5 per cent of Victoria’s coronavirus cases since the start of June have been aged over 60.
Of Wednesday’s 45 new cases, just 17 had been in isolation while infectious. Thirty-six have been linked to known outbreaks, while contact tracers investigate nine more mystery cases.
Ten of the cases are linked to the MyCentre Childcare cluster in Broadmeadows, while nine are linked to the growing Shepparton and Royal Melbourne Hospital outbreaks.
The Herald Sun understands about one-third of Shepparton’s population has been forced into isolation, as the number of exposure sites continues to grow.
Health Minister Martin Foley said while it was “heartening” that case numbers had reduced, the outbreak risk was still very real.
“It’s our public health officials who tell us there’s a lot of work to do to make sure that as we take up vaccination rates up, we bring infection levels down,” he said. “We know that numbers bounce around.”
It comes as exclusive data provided to the Herald Sun reveals the Delta strain has become the sole variant circulating the state.
Thirty-six Victorians are currently in hospital, including nine in ICU, of whom seven are on ventilators.
AMBITIOUS PLAN TO VAX YEAR 12S
Victoria’s year 12 students will receive at last one dose of the Covid vaccine by the time they sit their first exam, the Andrews government has promised.
But it is yet to detail how students would be given priority access to the jab, with the Opposition calling for an urgent plan to be unveiled.
The Herald Sun understands the government will consider further measures within the state’s vaccination system to ensure students can be vaccinated quickly in the coming weeks.
It comes as children aged 12 and over will be able to book a Covid-19 vaccine appointment as early as next week under a plan to make the jab available as soon as health officials finalise approvals.
There will be no delay between the Australian Technical Advisory Group granting all children aged 12 to 15 access to the Pfizer vaccine and the opening of bookings at commonwealth vaccination centres and GPs.
The state is likely to open up vaccination bookings for children in mass hubs soon after the approval.
Victorians aged 18-39 desperately tried to nab one of the 830,000 new first dose appointments released on Wednesday, with the Health Department’s booking system overwhelmed by demand.
More than 1.3 million people attempted to contact the call centre, while the online booking system received 50,000 hits a minute. More than 95,000 people booked an appointment until 4pm, with 6700 of those between 2pm and 3pm.
NSW continues to outpace Victoria in the rollout, administering 130,784 doses on Tuesday compared with our 74,099.
It came after 124,645 doses were delivered on Monday, almost double Victoria’s 67,982.
In a bid to get students back into the classroom, Education Minister James Merlino announced year 12 students would become a priority cohort.
“We want to make sure that they’re vaccinated before their exams start,” he said. Exams begin on October 4, but written exams – including English – won’t be held until later that month.
Mr Merlino said state authorities would ask the federal government for more doses to vaccinate senior students.
“We’ll be asking the commonwealth for additional supplies of the vaccine,” he said.
“This is about … sending a very strong message to year 12 students, particularly in their final months, giving them confidence and clarity that they can … really tackle their last few months of study and give it their best shot.”
It is not yet known how the government will ensure the senior students are given priority access, prompting the opposition to call for clarity around what measures were being taken. Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said there was “no substance” behind Mr Merlino’s announcement.
“This is just a big shiny announcement, but there’s actually no plan on how to deliver this,” she said.
“This government will say anything to get a headline without carrying through and not really caring about what they are doing to these kids.
“They should understand exactly what the plan is from government as to how they are going to get vaccinated.” Mr Merlino said the quickest way to deliver jabs was to expand the eligibility requirements. “We are working very closely with our public health team to make sure we can do that,” he said.
Victoria’s vaccination program deputy secretary, Naomi Bromley, said tens of thousands of people had successfully booked appointments.
“The system is managing extraordinary demand but people are getting through,” she said.
Ms Bromley said the health department would continue to turn every available dose into an appointment. “If you can’t successfully make a booking, please try again,” she said.
MONASH HOSPITAL AN EXPOSURE SITE
Two exposure sites have been identified at the Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department after a patient with Covid-19 attended the Clayton hospital.
A Monash Health spokesman told the Herald Sun:
“A patient who visited the Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department between 3:20pm and 6:30pm on Saturday August 21, 2021 has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
“Two exposure sites have been identified within the Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department where there may have been a risk to the public. The fast track waiting room area has been classified as a Tier 1 exposure site.”
Patients and visitors who attended the fast track waiting room area between 3:35pm and 6:30pm on Saturday 21 August 2021 must immediately isolate, get a Covid-19 test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
The main waiting room area has been classified as a Tier 2 exposure site.
Patients and visitors who attended the main emergency waiting room between 3.20pm and 3.35pm on Saturday 21 August should urgently get a Covid-19 test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
The spokesman said the The South East Public Health Unit had started contact tracing for all employees, patients and visitors who have had contact with the patient.
“The contact tracing team is speaking with patients and visitors who have been identified as close contacts of the Covid-19 positive patient.
“As per Department of Health exposure criteria, three employees have been deemed to have been in close contact and have been asked to take a test and self-isolate for 14 days from the time of exposure (furloughed).”
All other employees who did not have close contact with the patient were wearing appropriate PPE and are not at risk, the spokesman said.
“There has been no impact to operations at Monash Medical Centre.
“The Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department is safe to attend, and everyone in our community should continue to seek medical attention as needed.”
OVERSEAS MEDICS TO OUR RESCUE
Victoria will welcome about 350 medical professionals from overseas for critical roles in our health system over the next few months.
The healthcare workers will be employed in almost 30 public health services across Victoria, including in rural and regional areas, as the state battles with increasing numbers of local staff being furloughed.
About 90 per cent of the health professionals are doctors and the remainder are specialist nurses or midwives, the state government revealed.
Many are resident hospital medical officers who will meet demands in emergency departments and other critical areas.
It comes after the Royal Melbourne Hospital was forced to implement an ambulance bypass after 450 staff were forced to isolate.
A government spokeswoman said the pandemic had placed “enormous pressure” on all parts of the health system, including the state’s testing and vaccinating workforce.
“Roughly 350 health professionals will take up critical roles in our health system over the next few months, with the first group of arrivals set to work across Melbourne and Bendigo,” she said.
The recruited health workers have occupations on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List and almost all will start by October 2021.
MARKET STAFF GET THE POINT
Fruiterers and florists are doing their bit to help Victoria’s vaccine rollout, rolling up their sleeves for a Covid jab on the job.
A vaccination hub has been established at the Melbourne Wholesale Market in Epping, a fresh produce hub visited each night by thousands of essential workers.
The hub is operating for three weeks, with 10,000 Melbourne Market access card holders eligible to receive their Covid vaccine at the venue.
Melbourne Market chief executive Mark Maskiell said he was impressed by the early turnout.
“We’re pleased to see so many market users keen to roll up their sleeves,” he said.
“Almost all fresh produce found at local greengrocers, independent supermarkets, restaurants and cafes in Victoria is sold here at the Melbourne Market.
“So having as many of our market community vaccinated as possible goes a long way in helping to protect Victoria’s fresh produce supply chain.”
Austin Health is running the vaccination hub, which is operating into the early hours of the morning to accommodate the shift times of the market’s essential workers.
“Austin Health has been fantastic. We appreciate they’ve gone the extra mile to cater to the unique needs of the market community,” Mr Maskiell said.
TOURISM ON THE BRINK
Travel companies that hung on during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic are now going under, and ongoing border chaos could kill off even more, tourism industry bosses are warning.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chair Tom Manwaring said the tourism industry had effectively been in lockdown for 18 months, and state premiers were in danger of extending this into next year by continuing to equivocate on the reopening of borders once vaccination rates reach 80 per cent.
Keeping borders closed even beyond that milestone would “decimate” the tourism industry, Mr Manwaring said.
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