24 new Covid cases, fears for homeless amid St Kilda mystery cluster
Two Broadmeadows playgrounds are among the latest exposure sites after a controversial call to close public play areas sparked backlash from parents and child health experts.
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Two playgrounds are among the new exposure sites released by the health department on Wednesday night.
Jack Roper Reserve playground and Lahinch Street playground in Broadmeadows have been identified as Tier 2 sites.
No other playgrounds currently appear on the list of 537 exposure sites, however a skate park was added on Tuesday.
Smartline Dry Cleaners in Hadfield has also been deemed a Tier 1 site on August 14.
It comes a day after Melburnians were warned police would be “deployed” to playgrounds to ensure people adhered to the tough restrictions.
Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said it would be “highly unlikely” that Victoria Police would have to issue coronavirus fines at playgrounds.
Mr Nugent was asked on Wednesday to clarify how police would enforce bans on using outdoor equipment.
“We have a different approach to children than we do to adults,” he said.
“It’s a $5452 fine for breaching the gathering that’s contained in the chief health officer’s directions.
“We’re not going to get a child to pay a fine for that amount.
“If we see deliberate and blatant breaches by a group of youths for example, we will engage with the youths and work out what’s the best approach.”
The comments come a day after Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said police would make no apologies for patrolling playgrounds and parks as part of a crackdown on rule-breakers.
When asked about comments from the state’s police union that members were concerned about enforcing limits on playgrounds and tougher rules, Mr Nugent said officers were doing an “amazing job” with the extra responsibilities even if they did not enjoy issuing fines.
“We play a critical role to ensure that we have overall compliance in the community,” he said.
“We won’t arrest away a pandemic but ultimately its one really important component.
“The community would expect us to respond to mass gatherings where people are drinking and disregarding the CHO directions.
“At the same time, our police might not want to. I wouldn’t really want to issue a fine but I would if I needed to.
“By and large our people are doing a fantastic job. They assess the situation well (and) they determine whether or not it’s a blatant breach and they issue a fine.”
CALLS TO SCRAP PLAYGROUND BAN
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute group leader Professor Fiona Russell, who led a study of COVID-19 school closures last year, said Melbourne’s playground shutdown needed to be reconsidered.
“We haven’t seen any actual evidence of transmission occurring outside although it may be theoretically possible,” she said.
“We know that there is a mental health silent pandemic happening alongside this pandemic and it’s so critical that it gets the same amount of attention that Covid does.”
Prof Russell said there were more people in hospital requiring mental health support, compared to people with Covid.
“There are a lot of people in hospital including teenagers because of the impact of school closures … the mental health of the entire family deteriorates.
“It’s important that children can get out and play and interact with other children, it’s important for them to be around other children for their social development.”
NEW ZEALAND DECLARED RED ZONE
Victoria has declared New Zealand a red zone after the country’s Covid outbreak grew to 10 on Wednesday.
After 8pm, anyone attempting to enter Victoria from New Zealand without an exemption, exception or permit will face a fine of up to $5452 and could be sent back or placed into hotel quarantine.
New Zealand has additionally been declared an orange zone retrospectively from 12.01am on August 4.
This means anyone currently in Victoria who was in New Zealand after August 4 must get tested within 72 hours of arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.
FEARS FOR HOMELESS AS MISSING LINK ROAMS FREE
Health authorities are still searching for an “index case” at the centre of a number of mystery cases linked to the St Kilda area.
It comes as 24 new infections were detected in Victoria, including four mystery cases.
Six of the cases were out and about in the community while infectious, prompting concerns that the number of exposure sites will continue to expand.
A homeless sex worker is among the mystery infections linked to the suburb.
Health Minister Martin Foley urged any clients of sex workers in St Kilda to get tested for Covid.
“There is no evidence of transmission having occurred because of this person’s sex worker occupation,” he said.
“But out of caution, we are asking that if you have employed a sex worker in the St Kilda area, you need to come forward and get tested. No matter where you are, you need to come forward and get tested.”
Investigations are under way to determine if the woman had been in contact with other mystery cases linked to the St Kilda cluster.
The Herald Sun also understands the woman has no fixed address and often stays in boarding houses.
The woman is one of two homeless cases and her infection was discovered after she arrived at an emergency department.
It is not yet known how the woman acquired the virus.
St Kilda is emerging as a new battlefront in Melbourne’s latest Covid drama, with at least five mystery cases linked by nothing more than geography.
Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said there was no evidence yet the sex worker was the missing link between the St Kilda mystery cluster.
The mystery cluster is made up of the sex worker, along with accountants, architects, members of the Orthodox Jewish community and a pizza shop employee.
Mr Weimar said there were likely more unknown cases in the area.
“We are exceptionally concerned about what we don’t know yet in that area,” he said.
Hospitals across Melbourne are on standby amid fears coronavirus infections have made their way through the city’s homeless community.
Medical staff working in emergency departments and other areas have been warned to be on alert amid fears the virus has been spread across shelters to vulnerable Victorians.
The latest infections include:
• 10 linked to Al-Taqwa College (three students, seven household contacts)
• Four linked to Glenroy West Primary (all household contacts)
• Two linked to CS Square shopping centre
• One linked to Newport Football Club (household contact)
• Two linked to the Lygon St housing tower
• Two separate mystery cases in Altona North
• One mystery case in Malvern East (pizza store worker)
• One mystery case in Glenroy
There are currently 246 active cases in the state, with nearly 40,000 Victorians getting tested on Monday.
The state says current data suggests many people still assume their symptoms are not the virus and less than half of those with symptoms get tested, prompting a new ad campaign.
The Only a Test Can Tell will begin on Wednesday and run indefinitely, urging people with cold and flu symptoms to get tested for Covid.
Twelve patients are in hospital, including two receiving intensive care. Fifty-six infected Victorians are children aged younger than nine, while 55 are aged between 10 and 19.
Victoria also hit a milestone of two million vaccines on Monday, with 48.1 per cent of the state having received a first dose, compared to the national average of 48.7 per cent.
So far, 26.7 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated. Nationally, that figure is 26.9 per cent.
SCORES OF NEW EXPOSURE SITES
More than 30 new exposure sites across Melbourne were identified on Wednesday afternoon, including Melbourne Airport, a Glenroy kindergarten, an Altona North McDonalds and eight train services.
The check-in area of Melbourne Airport for international departures has been declared a Tier 2 site on August 11 from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.
York St Kindergarten has been deemed a Tier 1 site from August 6 through to August 12 from 9am to 5pm, forcing young kids, parents and staff into a 14-day quarantine.
A McDonalds in Altona North and Old School Pizza restaurant in Coburg have also been listed as Tier 1 sites.
Numerous Tier 2 exposure sites in St Kilda frequented by members of the homeless community have been identified, after two “transient” cases were announced on Wednesday.
They include Sacred Heart Mission’s women’s house and dining hall, as well as the Salvation Army Crisis Centre.
Trains on the Upfield, Frankston, Sandringham and Pakenham lines on August 13 and 14 have also been listed as Tier 2 sites.
ANOTHER HORROR DAY IN NSW
NSW has recorded yet another horror day, with a record 633 new cases and three more deaths.
Of those new infections, 475 are mystery cases. And just 94 were in quarantine for their entire infectious period. The state’s previous record daily cases was 478 infections announced on Monday.
Sixty people have now lost their lives since Sydney’s Delta outbreak began on June 16.
Meanwhile, Canberra has recorded 22 new Covid cases, bringing the territory’s outbreak to 67 cases.
It comes as ACT Senator Katy Gallagher confirmed she was quarantining after her 14-year-old daughter Evie tested positive.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also confirmed links between a NSW Covid-19 case and the one that sparked the country’s outbreak.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Ms Ardern said genome sequencing had shown the outbreak is the highly-contagious Delta strain, and that it had come from NSW.
BIG CHANGES FOR 2021 VCE STUDENTS
Covid chaos continues for VCE students, with first-round university offers to be released in mid-January rather than December, the tertiary admissions centre has confirmed.
VCE results have also been pushed back.
It’s understood that the demands of giving all students special consideration has put additional pressure on the system.
See the revised dates and changes in the full story here.
NEW EXPOSURE SITES EMERGE
Two buses servicing Altona are the latest Tier 1 exposure sites to be identified by the health department.
A positive case travelled on the 903 bus for 7 minutes, getting on at Ross Rd/Millers Rd at 3.56pm on August 13 and getting off at Altona Station at 4.03pm.
The case travelled back along the same route, boarding the bus at Altona Station at 5.48pm and disembarking at Ross Rd/Millers Rd at 5.55pm.
All passengers on board between the specified times must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Meanwhile, a second Carlton public housing tower at 510 Lygon Street has been declared a Tier 2 exposure site.
Two positive cases announced on Tuesday have been linked to the public housing tower at 480 Lygon Street about 50m away, after all residents were tested due to Covid wastewater detections.
510 Lygon Street has been deemed a Tier 2 site from August 14 through to August 17.
It is possible one or more of the floors of the tower may be placed into lockdown, with the health department noting that some residents will need to quarantine for 14 days as Tier 1 contacts
PUBLIC TRANSPORT CUTS
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll has come under fire after revealing public transport night network services would again be scrapped under Melbourne’s curfew.
For the next two weeks, public transport will not run between 1am and 5am on Saturdays and between 1am and 6am on Sundays.
The changes are in line with the last time the city was under Stage 4 restrictions but Mr Carroll copped a heavy backlash online when making the announcement.
Among the complaints from the public was that essential workers who rely on public transport to work shifts would be affected by the change.
Opposition public transport spokesman David Davis slammed the government’s decision and its potential impacts.
SNAP LOCKDOWN IN NZ
New Zealand has been plunged into a snap three-day national lockdown after a mystery case emerged in Auckland, ending six months of no community transmission.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement after senior ministers met late Tuesday afternoon.
Auckland would remain at Level 4 – the highest of New Zealand’s alert levels – for at least a week. The lockdown begins at 11.59pm Tuesday.
It is the first case of community transmission in New Zealand since February 28. It was not known if it was the Delta variant, but that was assumed.
The Sydney experience should be a lesson to Kiwis, Ms Ardern said.
Read the full story here.
LIFELINE FOR LIVE MUSIC
Victoria’s decimated live events industry has been thrown a lifeline, with the state government to roll out new targeted support payments.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson will on Wednesday open the second round of the Live Performance Support program grants for events impacted by cancellations from May 27 to September 2.
The program will provide up to $12,000 for eligible event presenters and up to $4000 for suppliers that lost income or incurred unexpected costs.
Those who work on stage and off, front of house and behind the scenes, and across live performances, such as music, theatre, opera, dance, comedy, and cabaret are eligible to apply. Victorian-based applicants who have lost scheduled work interstate can also apply.
