Fears as T20 World Cup spectator tests positive for the coronavirus

A spectator at the women’s T20 Cricket World Cup final at the MCG has tested positive for coronavirus.

A spectator at the T20 Cricket World Cup final at the MCG has tested positive for coronavirus, contributing to fears of exposure at public events such as the weekend’s Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix.

Six new cases of COVID-19, all male, have been confirmed in Victoria, bringing the number in the state to 28. Five of them ­recently travelled overseas, and the sixth is a close contact of a ­confirmed case.

The MCG was packed with more than 86,000 fans on Sunday to watch Australia’s win over India and the infected man was on Level 2 of the members area. Another infected man attended the Rebels-Lions rugby game at AAMI Park last Saturday. Both of these men were on Virgin Australia flight VA24 from Los Angeles to Melbourne, but flew a day apart.

Another man is a student at La Trobe University, but the Bundoora campus in Melbourne won’t be closing ­despite the student having attended classes in the past week. In a statement released on Thursday, the university said it would follow advice from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and stay open.

“The student is receiving medical treatment and the university has offered its full support to the student,” it said.

All staff and students with whom the student came into contact had been identified and asked to self-isolate.

Westbourne Grammar School in Truganina, in Melbourne’s outer southwest, will be closed for two days while a senior student awaits test results for COVID-19.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said on Thursday she had ­received expert health advice that there was no need to cancel mass gatherings, including sporting events, festivals and community gatherings or celebrations such as weddings.

“We do not have a single case of unknown community transmission in Victoria,” she said.

“That is a very significant step but we have not reached the point where we need to take these ­extreme measures, but we will not hesitate to do so if we get the ­advice that is what is required.”

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, said visitors to locations where cases had been should be aware of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. He said the virus most likely required extended close personal contact, which he defined as at least 15 minutes face to face or more than two hours in the same room.

“At the moment, we urge the public to be mindful and take steps to minimise the risk of COVID-19, but Victorians should continue to go about their daily lives as normal,” he said. “Everyone also has a role to play in protecting yourself and your family.”