Delta strain of Covid-19 spreads to Melbourne public housing tower

Victoria has issued a late-night virus alert for new exposure sites as the state looks set to extend its sixth lockdown.

Victoria has added dozens of new exposure sites amid news the state’s lockdown looks set to be extended.

Victoria’s Department of Health issued a late-night alert for a number of exposure sites, classified as Tier 1.

Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a covid test and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.

CAROLINE SPRINGS

• Woolworths – August 5 between 10:15pm and 12:55pm

• BWS – August 2 between 9am and 10am, August 3 between 5:10pm to 8:40pm, August 4 between 8:30am and 5:30pm, August 5 between 8:30am and 12:45pm

• Pacific Smiles Dental – CS Square, 29 Lake Street, August 4 between 5:32pm – 6:05pm

TAYLORS LAKES

• BWS – August 4 between 6:20pm and 7:10pm

YALLAMBIE

• Drysdale Street North East Link Project Worksite, Borlase Reserve

August 2 between 10:15am – 4pm, August 3 between 7:30am-4pm, August 4 between 9am-2:30pm

It comes after news of an outbreak of the Delta strain of Covid-19 has spread to a Melbourne public housing tower, which has joined a growing list of public exposure sites.

Victoria recorded 29 new local coronavirus cases during the state’s sixth lockdown.

The residential tower at 130 Racecourse Road in Flemington is listed as a tier 2 exposure site from August 3 to 6, meaning people must get tested urgently and self-isolate until they get a negative result.

“Case attended venue. Some individuals will be Tier 1 contacts required to quarantine for 14 days and the department will contact them directly with this advice,” the Health Department said.

The list of exposure sites includes the public housing tower at 130 Racecourse Rd in Flemington. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar revealed eight cases were family members living at the tower, who were now in hotel quarantine.

“Those eight positive cases relocated two days ago and last night — one group left two days ago and one group left last night,” Mr Weimar said.

“They are now in alternative and safe accommodation. We will be undertaking full testing of the rest of that housing building. That work is underway.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said the family had been cooperative.

“The positive cases are not there — they have moved out and we’re very grateful to them,” he said.

But he warned some people may have become infected due to their proximity to the family.

The public housing tower was among nine apartment blocks locked down in July last year, with the Ombudsman later finding the handling of the situation breached human rights.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the sick people living in the tower had moved into quarantine. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

The new Tier 1 exposure sites added to the list on Saturday were:

CAROLINE SPRINGS

• Target, Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.35pm to 1.10pm;
• Better Home, Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.41pm to 1.16pm;
• Aldi, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.47pm to 1.19pm;
• Fantastic Home and Gifts, Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.50pm to 1.23pm;
• Caroline Springs Pharmacy, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.54pm to 1.26pm; and
• Spectacle Hub, Caroline Springs Square, 29 -35 Lake St, August 2 from 10am to 2.45pm and August 4 from 1pm to 5.30pm.

People are urged to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Picture: Menahem Kahana/AFP

The new Tier 2 exposure sites added to the list on Saturday are:

FLEMINGTON

• 130 Racecourse Road Residential Tower, August 3 to 6.

TAYLORS HILL

• Liquorland, Taylors Hill Village Shopping Centre, corner Gourlay Rd and Hume Dr, July 31 from 1.12pm to 1.52pm;
• United Chemists, Taylors Hill Village Shopping Centre, shop 8, corner Gourlay Rd and Hume Dr, August 2 from 3.15pm to 4.01pm;
• The Lott, Taylors Hill Village Shopping Centre, shop 13, 127 Gourlay Rd, August 2 from 3.32pm to 4.05pm;
• Shell Coles Express, 127 Gourlay Rd, August 4 from 12.20pm to 12.56pm; and
• Coles, Taylors Hill Village Shopping Centre, 127 Gourlay Rd, July 31 from 1.12pm to 1.52pm and August 2 from 3.37pm to 4.17pm.

CAROLINE SPRINGS

• Slices Restaurant, 2 Lake St, August 3 from 4.40pm to 5.15pm;
• Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake St, August 4 from 12.35pm to 1.30pm;
• Ilmalgo, 8 Malcolm Court, July 31 from 12.15pm to 12.55pm; and
• Quality Cut Meats, 15B Malcolm Court, July 31 from 12.27pm to 1.17pm.

The full list if exposure sites can be found here.