No new cases for 25 days in a row but ‘indeterminate’ test result being probed

Victoria has recorded 25 days in a row with no locally acquired cases of coronavirus, but follow-up tests are being undertaken by health experts on one uncertain test result.

The state’s health department said they were notified of an “indeterminate” COVID-19 result on Saturday night.

“Follow-up tests are under way and precautionary public health actions are being taken,” the Department of Health and Human Services said on Twitter on Sunday morning.

“There will be an update on the case later today.”

No new virus cases were found in international travellers in hotel quarantine.

The state has just 20 active coronavirus cases, all in hotel isolation. Three of those are linked to the Australian Open: one player and two non-players.

There were 10,681 test results received on Saturday.

Victoria’s COVID-free run led Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan to announce on Saturday that border restrictions with Victoria would be relaxed on Friday, after the state managed to “wipe out” COVID-19 in the community.

Victoria will be considered a “very low-risk” state, meaning travellers will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arriving in WA.

“Our extra-cautious approach has worked, and now we can continue to follow the health advice and safely adjust our controlled interstate border,” Mr McGowan said.

Victorians travelling to Perth Airport will need to complete a G2G pass declaration, have no COVID-19 symptoms, and accept a temperature and COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport if required.

Those travelling by land will also need to fill in a G2G pass declaration specifying the states they have travelled through in the past 14 days and submit to a health assessment by border staff.

Meanwhile, more viral fragments of COVID-19 have been detected in wastewater samples taken on January 27 from Castlemaine in central Victoria, the Phillip Island township of Cowes, and Pakenham, 53 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD.

Anyone who lives in or has visited these areas from January 25 to 27 is urged to get tested if they have any symptoms.

Viral fragments were also recently detected in wastewater in Gisborne, Hamilton and
Leongatha.

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