Coronavirus Victoria: Five members of same household test positive for COVID-19
Authorities in Victoria have warned of an emerging virus cluster after five members of the same household tested positive for coronavirus.
Authorities in Victoria have warned of an emerging virus cluster after five members of the same household tested positive for coronavirus, with more cases likely.
The five were among 10 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the state on Thursday.
“Today’s increase in cases illustrates once again that while we have been flattening the curve, our battle against COVID-19 is far from over,” Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton told reporters yesterday.
Professor Sutton said the “big household” included a person who had previously tested positive.
“The original case in that household – we haven’t determined how that individual contracted it, but it is a big household; obviously it is always a risk with close contact within a household in terms of transmitting to others,” he said.
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Prof Sutton warned that more people could be diagnosed from the household involved in the emerging cluster of cases. After yesterday’s increase in infections, the cases linked to the outbreak are now at six.
All household members are in isolation and contact tracing is underway to determine how the first infection was acquired.
Other members who are showing symptoms consistent with coronavirus are awaiting test results.
A second security guard at a Melbourne CBD hotel housing quarantined travellers was also among Thursday’s new cases.
Prof Sutton said it’s possible the Rydges on Swanston worker had shared a shift with another staff member whose infection was confirmed a day earlier. The hotel is shut to the public and all staff are being tested.
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While Victoria will further ease restrictions on Monday, June 1, Prof Sutton said that while the state and country had robust contact-tracing and mitigation measures in place, the risk was not over.
“I will worry about a second wave until there is a vaccine given to everyone in Australia,” he said. “That risk will remain as long as the virus is around.
“This entire pandemic started with a single individual infected and we’re at five, six million cases globally.”
There have now been 1628 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, 65 of which are active. The state’s death toll stands at 19.
– With AAP
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