Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino warns unfolding Covid-19 outbreak may ‘get worse before it gets better’

Just days out from the end of Victoria’s snap lockdown, officials are warning the next 3 days are critical and the unfolding outbreak may ‘get worse’.

Victorians have been warned the state’s unfolding Covid-19 outbreak “may well get worse before it gets better”, in a severe blow just days out from the end of a seven day snap lockdown.

But it’s likely harsh restrictions will remain after five new cases overnight and a further six infections which came in after the state’s midnight reporting cut-off.

“The challenge ahead of us, is a very significant one,” Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino said on Monday afternoon.

“In the past 24 hours we identified many more points of concern. In addition to the very worrying cases in private aged care. We are very concerned about the number of other high risk exposure sites.

“We are seeing a small number of cases infecting a large number of contacts.

“There is no doubt the situation is incredibly serious.”

Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino says the current outbreak will get worse. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

Mr Merlino said the next few days would be “critical”.

“I want to be very clear with everyone, this outbreak may well get worse before it gets better,” he said.

“I’m asking every single Victorian if you have symptoms whatsoever, please go and get tested.

“Check the exposure sites regularly and please keep following the rules to keep you, your family and community and everyone in Victoria safe – this is not over and we need to keep going.”

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton says Victoria’s numbers are concerning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria chief health officer Brett Sutton echoed the words of the Acting Premier.

“We have had some stuff come to us in the last 48 hours and It is very concerning,” he told reporters on Monday morning.

“We‘ve gone from a single case at the beginning of the month to 4200 primary close contacts.

“With more numbers today coming through and those really concerning settings, especially in aged care, we are neck and neck with this virus.”

Four aged care facilities have been linked to the state’s growing Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Four aged care facilities have been linked to the state’s growing Covid-19 outbreak.

On Monday it was revealed two staff members and one resident had contracted coronavirus at Arcare Maidstone, while another worker at the BlueCross Western Gardens nursing home in Sunshine tested positive on Sunday night.

Two other Royal Freemasons sites were also on high alert after two workers – one from Coppin Centre and the other from Royal Freemasons Footscray – worked at the Arcare Maidstone facility in the past week.

There are 60 active cases of Covid-19 and 279 exposure sites across the state.