Victoria coronavirus: Covid case confirmed in Macedon Ranges, Cohuna

A Central Victorian Covid case has been confirmed and linked to the V-Line cluster as the state records nearly 400 new cases.

The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 had been found in Cohuna, 117km north of Bendigo Picture: David Crosling

A Central Victorian Covid case has been confirmed and linked to the V/Line cluster as the state records nearly 400 new cases.

The Department of Health reported a new active Covid case in the Macedon Ranges on Saturday.

Health authorities said the case, detected in the past 24 hours, was located in the 3442 postcode which includes Woodend and surrounding areas.

Deputy chief health officer Dan O‘Brien said the Macedon Ranges case was linked to the V-Line outbreak.

The V-Line cluster was initially detected in Gippsland on Friday, with four workers since testing positive to coronavirus.

The Woodend train station and three train trips have since been declared a Tier 2 exposure site after a case attended on Wednesday and Thursday.

A Covid case visited the station from 4pm-4.30pm Wednesday, September 8, 3pm-3.30pm and 5.25pm-6.30pm on Thursday September 9.

Three Bendigo V/Line train trips have also been flagged as Tier 2 exposure sites.

The 3.06pm-4.06pm Wednesday Bendigo V/Line trip from Melbourne to Woodend, the 5.14am-6.12am Thursday Kyneton V/Line from Woodend to Melbourne and the 2.05pm-3.05pm Bendigo V/Line from Melbourne to Woodend were all deemed exposure risks.

Anyone who visited the station or was a passenger at these times must urgently get tested, then isolated until confirmation of a negative result.

It comes as a Woodend bottle-o, and Carlsruhe and Ravenswood petrol stations were identified as a Tier 2 exposure site.

A Covid positive case attended the Cellarbrations Woodend, on High St, between 5.25pm and 6.30pm Thursday September 9.

A patient went to the Vantage Fuels Carlsruhe on the Calder Freeway between 7.14pm and 7.45pm on Thursday September 9.

A case also went to the Caltex Ravenswood, Calder Highway on Tuesday September 7, from 2.45pm to 3.15pm.

Anyone who attended the bottle shop or petrol stations must urgently get tested, then isolate until confirmation of a negative result.

Springs Medical Daylesford said it had been advised by health authorities a positive case visited on Wednesday, with anyone who attended between 3.15pm and 4.30pm considered a primary close contact.

The centre was closed on Friday afternoon as a deep clean took place.

The venue has been declared a Tier 1 Exposure Site.

Anyone who has visited a the clinic between 3.15 and 4.15pm on Wednesday must immediately isolate, get a Covid test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.

The train line cluster as disrupted the public transport network, with V-Line announcing coaches would replace trains services across the network.

“Due to ongoing driver shortages following precautionary Covid testing and isolation, coaches will replace all V-Line train services across the network today,” V-Line Bendigo wrote.

“Passengers are advised to check the V-Line website before travelling.”

Due to ongoing driver shortages following precautionary COVID testing and isolation, coaches will replace all V/Line train services across the network today. Passengers are advised to check the V/Line website before travelling.https://t.co/yoH2PN94nvpic.twitter.com/FHaPL43DeI

— V/Line Bendigo Line (@vline_bendigo) September 12, 2021

This is the second new Covid case detected in Central Victoria, with a case confirmed at Cohuna on Saturday.

A Daylesford business owner has also tested positive to Covid and has been linked to two prominent venues.

The male restaurateur had travelled to Melbourne during the regional lockdown to attend a dental appointment, which is allowed under the chief health officer’s directives.

He tested positive on Friday, is currently in isolation and is co-operating with the Department of Health. Springs Medical Centre, Cliffy’s Emporium, and Panchos cafe have all been listed as Covid exposure sites.

Victoria recorded 392 new Covid cases overnight, with 107 of those linked to existing outbreaks.

The Victorian Government also on Sunday announced that Melbourne’s worst Covid-ravaged suburbs will be prioritised for the vaccine, with pop-up vaccine clinics to open in hot spots.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was “so pleasing” Victoria had recorded its biggest Saturday of vaccinating, with more than 36,000 vaccines were administered on Saturday, and 48,063 tests were carried out.

Due to ongoing driver shortages following precautionary COVID testing and isolation, coaches will replace all V/Line train services across the network today. Passengers are advised to check the V/Line website before travelling.https://t.co/yoH2PN94nvpic.twitter.com/FHaPL43DeI

— V/Line Bendigo Line (@vline_bendigo) September 12, 2021

Victoria’s construction industry has been put on notice after recording hundreds of Covid cases in recent days.

Of the 450 new infections announced on Saturday, one-third was linked to construction workers including several who have seeded new Delta cases in regional areas.

Three of five new cases in the greater Geelong area are linked to construction work.
There were also single cases in Cohuna, Daylesford and Beveridge at the same time regional areas were emerging from lockdown.

Because seven of the eight new regional cases are believed to have been infected while visiting Melbourne, health authorities have so far allowed the easing of restrictions to continue.

COVID CASE CONFIRMED IN NORTHERN VICTORIA

A Covid positive case has been confirmed in a small town on the New South Wales and Victorian border.

The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit said a positive case of Covid-19 was detected in Cohuna, 117km north of Bendigo.

The health service said the case acquired the infection from outside Cohuna and was currently isolating.

In response Covid testing in the Murray River town has been stepped up, with the clinic open from 10am Saturday September 11 at the Northern District Community Health in Cohuna.

Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit said any exposure sites linked to this case would be updated on the Department of Health website.

The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit reminded everyone to wear their masks covering mouth and nose unless they had a medical reason not to, wash their hands regularly, socially distance, or use hand sanitiser and to check-in wherever you go.

It comes as new exposure sites have been identified in Daylesford on the first day regional Victoria exited lockdown.

A medical clinic and cafe confirmed via Facebook a positive case had visited both venues despite neither being added to the Department of Health’s exposure site list as of Friday night.

Cliffy’s Emporium said a staff member that worked on Tuesday had since tested positive, with the cafe closed on Saturday to allow other workers to get swabbed.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. We will share all relevant information as it becomes available,” the post said.

“As you can imagine, it’s an awful situation for the staff member and the team to be in.”

Springs Medical Daylesford said it had been advised by health authorities a positive case visited on Wednesday, with anyone who attended between 3.15pm and 4.30pm considered a primary close contact.

The centre was closed on Friday afternoon as a deep clean took place.

The venue has been declared a Tier 1 Exposure Site.

Anyone who has visited a the clinic between 3.15 and 4.15pm on Wednesday must immediately isolate, get a COVID-19 test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.

The clinic said all close contacts and their household contacts must immediately isolate.

A construction site of a future Central Victorian school was also pinged as a Covid exposure site.

The Health Department announced the Gisborne South Primary School Construction site, on Willowbank Rd, was a Tier 2 exposure site.

It said the case visited the Macedon Ranges worksite on Friday September 3 from 10.52am to 12pm.

Anyone who has visited this location during these times should urgently get tested, then isolate until confirmation of a negative result.

Close contacts are urged to continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested again if symptoms appear.

More to come