‘Extreme concern’: Victorian aged care centre in lockdown after worker tests positive to Covid-19

There are ‘extreme concerns’ about a new mystery case of Covid-19 in Victoria which has plunged an aged care centre into full lockdown.

State leaders are ‘extremely concerned’ about a new mystery case of Covid-19.

One of Victoria’s five new infections is a worker in an aged care facility in Melbourne’s west, health officials revealed on Sunday.

Health authorities are now scrambling to determine how the female health care worker at Arcare Maidstone, who lives in Altona, caught the virus.

She was asymptomatic and wore a mask when she worked shifts on Wednesday and Thursday at the aged care home.

“The aged care positive case is an extreme concern to us,” testing commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters on Sunday.

“It is our most vulnerable and sensitive setting.”

Acting Premier James Merlino on Sunday said the worker got a test as soon as she showed symptoms.

“I want to thank the worker for doing the right thing and getting tested immediately upon getting symptoms,” he said.

The worker had also received the first dose of the vaccine, and more than half of the residents have been vaccinated.

Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino said one of Victoria’s five new Covid-19 cases works at an aged care facility. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Out of the 76 residents at the centre, 53 had consented to the coronavirus vaccine, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday.

He urged people in aged care or their families to consent to receiving the jab.

“It can save your life,” Mr Hunt told reporters.

However only a third of aged care workers at the centre had received their vaccine.

The aged care centre has gone into strict lockdown with residents confined to their rooms amid fears the virus may spread.

Contact tracing is underway to determine how the worker caught the virus.

“This is the first mystery case we have seen in this particular outbreak,” coronavirus testing commander Mr Weimar said.

“We have identified the infectious period as potentially being Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the 26 and 27 of May, and of course we have now put in place our full response.

“We are doing on-site testing, of course.”

Victoria recorded five new local cases of Covid-19 on the third day of the state’s lockdown, including the aged care staffer.

Shoppers stripped the shelves ahead of lockdown. Picture: William West/ AFP

One returned traveller in hotel quarantine also tested positive. There are now a total of 49 active cases in the state.

People continue to turn out for Covid tests in droves, with 45,301 swabs taken in the past 24 hours.

More than 17,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered.

Two of the five cases were close contacts of other cases, with links between the other three new cases — including the aged care worker — and previously known cases being investigated.

One was linked to a known exposure site, Mr Merlino said.

It comes after police arrested 14 people and pepper spray was used at an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne on Saturday.

There are only five reasons Victorians are allowed to leave their homes for seven days: Shopping for essential goods and services, caregiving, exercise, authorised work and study, and to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

The state government has empowered police to issue on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals who don’t comply with the emergency restrictions.

People who don’t wear masks also risk $200 fines.

Under current plans the last day of lockdown will be Thursday, with the possibility of some restrictions extending beyond that, or the dates to change depending on the latest numbers.

The state recorded five new local coronavirus cases on Saturday, four on Friday and 12 on Thursday.