Covid-19 NSW outbreak reaches Melbourne as three test positive

Sydney’s Covid-19 cluster has health officials across the country on edge with the virus jumping borders.

Sydney’s booming Covid-19 cluster has crossed state borders with two Victorians forced to isolate after testing positive and a third positive case revealed this morning.

Victoria’s Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar said three of the family of four from the City of Hume arrived on a flight from Sydney on July 4 carrying red zone permits.

The other person entered Victoria by road on July 8.

Victoria's COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said contact tracers are prepared. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

They all initially tested negative after arrival but two became symptomatic and were tested on Sunday with a positive result recorded on Monday morning.

The commander said the delayed onset of the virus showed the “importance of the red zone permit system”.

The flight has not been listed as an exposure site as the three family members tested negative two days later and all other passengers remain in isolation as part of Victoria’s red zone restrictions.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed the third case on radio on Tuesday morning, before the health department confirmed the news in a tweet.

“There may be one additional case,” he told 3AW.

“I’m very confident we’ve got our arms around (them). Those people are in isolation.

“There’ll be some exposure sites so were asking people to have a look at the Department of Health website.”

Covid-19 testing will increase across the country. Picture: Tom Huntley

The health department announced three new infections on Tuesday, with two of the cases previously revealed on Monday afternoon.

Reported yesterday: 2 new local cases, 1 case acquired interstate and no new cases acquired overseas.
- 14,384 vaccine doses were administered
- 23,470 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/iQzE0oJUc8

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 12, 2021

The cases have plunged an entire Maribyrnong apartment complex into lockdown.

Ariele Apartments residents, on Thomas Holmes St, were told not to leave the building unless they are being tested for Covid-19, or an emergency.

Covid-19 test numbers have risen in Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

Adding to the tension is the positive test of two members of a removalist crew who travelled through Victoria and SA.

The crew made stops at two Victorian family homes on July 8, one in the City of Whittlesea and the other in Maribyrnong.

The City of Whittlesea family had recently relocated from the interstate and tested negative on July 9.

The family of four from the City of Maribyrnong that came into contact with the removalists remains in Victoria in temporary accommodation.

The cases come after Victoria recorded its 12th day of no locally acquired cases and the state effectively shut the border to NSW and the ACT overnight, declaring them red zones under the travel permit system.

SA Health officials are currently mapping the revmoalist crew’s movements.

SA Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said they will again test the third member of the crew who has not shown symptoms of Covid-19.

“That particular third removalist has been very, very helpful and provided detailed information through to SA Health around their movements. We‘ve been able to work with SAPOL [SA Police] and look at traffic data, CCTV footage, to work out what particular stops they may have made,” she told the ABC

The following tier one sites have been listed, meaning people need to isolate immediately, get tested and quarantine for 14 days:

• Ballan: Mobil Ballan – Westbound, 6511 Western Freeway, Ballan, July 8 from 5pm to 7pm;
• Ballan: McDonalds Ballan – Westbound, 6511 Western Freeway, Ballan, July 8 from 5pm to 7pm;
• Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments, 7 Thomas Holmes St, Maribyrnong, July 8 from 1pm to 11.59pm;
• Craigieburn: Coles Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre, Craigieburn Rd and Windrock Ave, Craigieburn, July 10, from 5.28pm to 6.38pm.

The following tier two sites have been listed meaning people need to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Maribyrnong: Ariele Apartments, 7 Thomas Holmes St, Maribyrnong, all days from July 9 to 12;
• Broadmeadows: Metro Petroleum, 184 Widford St, Broadmeadows, July 11 from 1.19pm to 2.04pm;
• Qantas Flight QF1542 Launceston to Melbourne, Launceston Airport to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), July 2, 10.15am to 11.20am.