Tower lockdown ends but 100 ‘imprisoned’ in isolation

More than 100 public housing residents in Melbourne remain in isolation or quarantine despite the end of a hard lockdown at the weekend.

Ali Abdalla, 18, who is a resident of the Alfred Street housing commission towers in North Melbourne has finally tastes freedom after two weeks in lockdown. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

More than 100 public housing residents in Melbourne remain in isolation or quarantine despite the end of a hard lockdown at the weekend.

The Health Department said on Sunday 87 current COVID-19 cases were residents of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington, while 54 cases lived in various public housing towers in Carlton.

At least 100 will be required to continue isolation or quarantine because of being an active case or a close contact of a known case.

The department said the quarantine period would vary for individuals and “we will continue to advise residents what this means for them”.

Premier Daniel Andrews two weeks ago ordered the full lockdown of nine public housing towers with an estimated 3000 residents.

Cleaners gather outside 33 Alfred street in North Melbourne to deep clean the building. Picture: Sarah Matray

The Victorian Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the treatment of the residents following reports of in­adequate access to medical supplies, fresh air, exercise and other everyday needs.

Originally, more than 3000 people were captured in the hard lockdown imposed by the state government in one of the most extreme measures introduced to combat the coronavirus in the world.

While eight of the nine towers were transitioned to stage-three restrictions after five days, the 470 residents at 33 Alfred Street in North Melbourne were ordered to remain in hard lockdown.

They were unable to leave their homes for any reason other than exercising under the supervision of Victoria Police.

The department said on Sunday 2837 COVID-19 cases were active in Victoria, with 130 cases in hospital, including 28 in intensive care. More than 1.3 millions tests have been processed. Of the 166 health workers with COVID-19, most were acquired in the community.

Almost 170 cases have been linked to Al-Taqwa College at Truganina and 53 at Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham.