‘Highly infectious’: Warning over strain of virus loose in Victoria

The strain of COVID-19 loose in Victoria is believed to multiply at a rate of five, chief health officer Brett Sutton warns as lockdown returns.

The strain of COVID-19 loose in Victoria is a “highly infectious” variant, Acting Premier James Merlino has warned, as he urged anyone eligible to get the AstraZeneca vaccine immediately.

The coronavirus strain that has infected at least 26 people in Victoria is the B1617 variant, known as the Indian variant of COVID-19, which is a mutation of the original virus that is more contagious than previous strains.

It was brought into Victoria when a man caught the virus, stayed in hotel quarantine in South Australia, and then returned to his home in the Melbourne suburb of Wollert before returning a positive test.

It is believed the man caught the strain while in hotel quarantine from another resident.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the strain was different to what Victoria had faced before and urged Victorians to get vaccinated.

He said it was believed the mutation had a multiplication rate of five, meaning one person with the strain infected an average of five others.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton warned the strain of virus in Victoria could be multiplying at a rate of five, with one person infecting an average of five others. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“The other clear is element is the infectiousness of the virus,” he said.

“When we see a member become infected, almost all the household is infected.

“It speaks to the infectiousness of this B1617 variant but also the cycles it’s going through.

“It really is rapid and that’s led to the exponential increase.

“It is a very infectious strain: One of the sub-lineages (of the strain) is the most infectious we have seen.

“This particular one might not be so bad, but it is not good.

“It is at least as infectious as the UK variant and possibly more infectious.

“That was challenging enough.”

Acting Premier James Merlino described the variant as “highly infectious”.

“No one – no one – wants to be where we are today,” he said.

“But this is highly infectious, and it is running at a super quick pace.”

Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino urged Victorians to get vaccinated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

The comments came as Victoria prepared to enter its fourth lockdown.

The snap seven-day lockdown has strict rules, with the aim of working as a “circuit breaker” on the B1617 strain spreading further:

• No leaving home except for essential shopping; authorised work and education; a maximum of two hours of exercise with one other person; care giving, compassionate and medical reasons; and to get vaccinated

• 5km limit in place for shopping and exercise unless your nearest shops are further away

• Masks must be worn everywhere, indoors and outdoors, anywhere other than your home, unless an exemption applies

• No visitors to your home other than an intimate partner. Single bubbles permitted with one other person for those who live alone

• No public gatherings

• Restaurants, pubs, and cafes can provide takeaway only. Essential retail like supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies can open. Other retail stores can provide click and collect

• Childcare and kinders remain open

• Approved professional sporting events will proceed but without crowds

• Schools will move to remote learning, except for vulnerable children and children of authorised workers. Higher education will move to remote learning only

• Auctions can only happen online

• No visitors in aged care facilities except for limited reasons

• In hospitals, visitors only for end of life, to support a partner during birth or a parent accompanying a child

• A maximum of 10 people permitted at ceremonies and funerals (plus those running the service)

• Weddings cannot proceed unless end of life or deportation reasons apply

• Hotels, clubs, TABs and the casino, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, swimming pools, spas, saunas, indoor and outdoor springs, community venues, drive in cinemas, amusements parks, creative studios, art galleries, museums and tourism are closed