Fresh fears after positive case went to Essendon v North Melbourne clash at Marvel Stadium

One day after the MCG was deemed a Covid hotspot, footy fans at another major AFL venue have potentially been exposed and a Hawks game has been postponed.

A positive Covid-19 case went to an AFL match, Victorian health authorities have confirmed, as another match was postponed due to a Melbourne team being unable to fly.

The positive case attended the Essendon versus North Melbourne game at Marvel Stadium on May 23.

“Individuals sitting on level 1 between aisles 5 and 28, or level 3 in between aisles 6 and 29, must get tested and stay isolated until they have received a negative result,” Victoria’s Health Department warned on Wednesday.

“The department is working with the AFL and Marvel Stadium to contact spectators to provide this advice.”

People who are considered close contacts will be directly provided more specific advice.

Other spectators at the stadium are advised to check for symptoms and be tested if any develop.

A positive case attended the Essendon/North Melbourne game at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, 23 May.

Individuals sitting on Level 1 between Aisles 5 and 28 or Level 3 in between Aisles 6 and 29 must get tested and stay isolated until they have received a negative result. [1/3] pic.twitter.com/h310WoVtEC

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) May 26, 2021

It comes just one day after the MCG was listed as a Covid hotspot because an infectious person attended the Collingwood versus Port Adelaide clash on Sunday.

The AFL said it had ensured each match had a COVIDSafe event plan that was endorsed by the relevant state health department.

“Each plan has specific measures in place to reduce any potential risk, including the sectioning of grounds to limit patron movement and implementation of both ticketing data capture and QR code scans for efficient contact tracing purposes,” a statement read.

“The AFL and the Marvel Stadium have prepared for this situation in multiple simulations, with contact information linked to ticketing data and QR codes.

“Marvel Stadium undertakes cleaning of the venue after each match and, out of an abundance of caution, a deep clean of the identified zone is now being undertaken.”

People line up to get tested for the virus. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Meanwhile, the AFL announced Gold Coast’s clash with Hawthorn scheduled for Saturday night at TIO Stadium in Darwin had been postponed.

While Essendon and Carlton were able to depart for their round 11 interstate matches on Wednesday, the Hawks had been planning to fly on Thursday.

Victoria recorded six new local infections overnight.

Acting Premier James Merlino said the next 24 hours would be critical and authorities could not rule out taking further action.

“We are not going to foreshadow what those changes may or may not be,” he told reporters.

“It will be dependent on what happens over the next 24 hours and advice from the public health team.”

Mr Merlino said all 15 cases in the northern suburbs cluster were linked and could be traced back to the Playford Hotel quarantine breach in South Australia.

But he said authorities were concerned about the “number and kind” of exposure sites.

Authorities have identified 301 close contacts of the northern suburbs cluster, and so far 80 have tested negative.

Originally published as Fresh fears after positive case went to Essendon v North Melbourne clash at Marvel Stadium