Cancer ward at Melbourne children’s hospital Covid exposure site

A major Melbourne children’s hospital has forced sick children and their families into isolation amid soaring case numbers in the state.

Royal Children's Hospital CEO Bernadette McDonald speaks to the media. Picture: Getty

Children being treated in the cancer ward of a major hospital in Melbourne have been exposed to Covid-19, forcing some kids and their parents and carers to isolate inside their rooms for the next 14 days.

Royal Children’s Hospital chief executive Bernadette McDonald said an affected parent had visited their child in the Kookaburra unit, prompting health authorities to declare the oncology ward a tier-one exposure site.

Ms McDonald said it was not yet known whether any other children in the Kookaburra Ward had contracted the virus and said contact tracing was under way.

The Royal Children’s Hospital oncology ward is a tier one exposure site. Picture: David Crosling

“This is something that is happening across Victoria, across Melbourne in particular,” she said.

“This is why we have our screening processes in place so the moment somebody tests positive, we can find out about that and try to keep people out of the hospital as much as possible.”

The dates of exposure were between last Friday, October 1, and Monday, October 4, and it is believed the parent tested positive after their visit.

Victoria recorded 1420 new infections on Wednesday and 11 deaths, the highest daily fatality rate amid the third wave.

The Victorian government announced it would purchase 2.2 million rapid antigen tests, which would initially be used in healthcare before being rolled out in other high risk work, including childcare, schools, corrections and emergency services.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley acknowledged they were not the “gold standard” PCR tests but said they would normalise the way authorities dealt with Covid infections in a vaccinated community.

“As Victoria does get closer to that 80 per cent double-dosed threshold and in line with what the Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved, there will be plenty of use in industry but domestic use (too),” he said.

“Rapid antigen testing will be part of the ongoing toolkit to make sure we can manage and deal with the potential of Covid in our daily lives.”

Mr Foley could not say how much the tests would cost, but they range between $10 and $22 currently.

Rapid antigen tests have been trialled with workers on level crossing removal sites and at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Targeted surveillance using rapid antigen testing program will also be expanded to the construction and food supply sectors. Any positive result will require follow up with a PCR test.

As well, Education Minister James Merlino announced in September that a trial would be conducted with schoolchildren and their families from home.

The TGA has approved use of the 15-minute tests from November 1, and Mr Foley said he expected private business and individuals to also take up the technology.

The state government announced an easing of restrictions for Victorians stranded in NSW and ACT, which kicked in from midnight on Wednesday.

Red zones – mostly areas in ­regional NSW – will be downgraded to orange zones, meaning Victorians can return home as long as they get tested within 72 hours of arrival and isolate until they get a negative result.

Extreme risk zones – areas locked down, including Sydney – will become red zones, Mr Foley said. “That means Victorian residents can return through an online application. They would need to test and home-quarantine for 14 days,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor and we are confident the risks continue to be mitigated in NSW. If there are further changes to be made in due course … we will let everybody know.”