Virus warning for 14 Melbourne suburbs, border to remain open to Queensland

A virus warning has been put out for 14 Melbourne suburbs after fragments of COVID-19 were detected in wastewater three days ago.

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COVID-19 has been detected in the wastewater of 14 Melbourne suburbs with residents urged to get tested if they have any symptoms of the illness.

COVID-19 has been detected in the wastewater of 14 Melbourne suburbs with residents urged to get tested if they have any symptoms of the illness.

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton on Sunday said the wastewater samples were from March 7 to 11 and anyone who visited these suburbs on the listed days should be on high alert for symptoms and get tested as soon as possible if “even mild” symptoms are present.

Brett Sutton said the wastewater samples were taken between March 7 and 11. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

“Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been recently detected in wastewater samples taken from sewer catchments that service several Melbourne suburbs,” he said.

“Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with COVID-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period.”

The suburbs are:

• Laverton and Laverton North from March 9 to 11
• Werribee (east of the Werribee River) from March 9 to 11
• Balwyn North, Blackburn North, Box Hill North, Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Mitcham, Mont Albert North and Nunawading from March 9 to 11
• Sunbury (northeastern area) from March 7 to 11

Wastewater monitoring is now undertaken at 142 locations across Victoria including 70 wastewater treatment plants and 72 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewage networks.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.

People are being urged to get tested. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The zero cases were the result of 11,382 tests.

There are two active cases in the state and no COVID patients in hospital.

There have been 31,202 vaccine doses administered in Victoria.

NSW ARRIVALS TO BE CONTACT TRACED

All arrivals to Victoria from Sydney will be contacted after a NSW security guard who had the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine has been infected with coronavirus after an apparent leak from hotel quarantine.

The 47-year-old, who had his first vaccine shot on March 2, returned a positive COVID test on Saturday night.

Victoria’s Health Department on Sunday night said that all arrivals from Sydney since March 13 would be contacted.

“NSW has identified one high risk exposure site (on Saturday),” it said.

“We will be requiring anyone who visited this site at the times specified to get tested and immediately quarantine for 14 days.”

The site is Pancakes on the Rocks, 507 King Georges Road, Beverley Hills, on March 13 from 10.45am-12pm.

“Victoria is working to support NSW authorities to contain the case. Under Victoria’s travel permit system, areas of NSW may be re-designated as red or orange zones by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer as further information emerges.”

QLD BORDER OPEN FOR NOW

Acting Premier James Merlino said Victoria has no plans to shut its border to Queensland following the Brisbane COVID-19 outbreak.

Mr Merlino said the message from Queensland’s health team was that they were “confident they got on top of this early”.

He told the press conference things can change “quickly” but said they currently had no advice for Victorians to reconsider Queensland travel plans.

The health department is in the process of contacting everyone who has arrived in Victoria from Queensland since March 10.

Meanwhile, Victoria has marked a COVID milestone, with zero locally acquired cases in the state after the final active case linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak was cleared on Saturday.

A hotel quarantine worker tested positive on February 7, with 24 cases linked to the cluster since then, triggering a five-day lockdown on February 12.

Melbourne has bounced back after its snap lockdown. Picture: David Crosling

Speaking at a presser to mark the removal of Cherry Street level crossing removal in Werribee, the Acting Premier was also pressed on international flights.

“We have made no decision on international flights,” he said.

“We want flights to resume...it will happen when it’s safe.”

Meanwhile, NSW has recorded its first COVID-19 case in 55 days with a hotel quarantine worker testing positive late on Saturday night.

Urgent contact tracing is underway after NSW Health revealed “a person who works at two Sydney hotels which provide hotel quarantine for returned travellers” returned the positive infection result.

It comes as Victoria recorded no new cases for the 16th consecutive day, with only two active cases statewide. More than 11,000 people were tested on Saturday.

HOPES LIFT FOR ‘NORMAL’ SKI SEASON

Victorian snow resorts are gearing up for a close to “normal” ski season in 2021 after pandemic shutdowns devastated the $1 billion industry last year.

Popular mountains like Falls Creek and Mt Hotham were only open for a matter of days in 2020 as the harsh Melbourne lockdown confined residents to 5km zones.

But the resorts are optimistic they will be able to operate as normally as possible amid COVID-safe conditions.

Australian Ski Areas Association chief executive Colin Hackworth said Victorian resorts had been open for summer activities and were looking forward to a “big recovery” during the ski season, which officially opens on the June Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

“Of course, the safety of staff and guests remains highest priority, and our industry was among the first to implement a COVID-safe plan,” he said.

Snow resorts took a big hit during 2020. Picture: Tony Harrington

“The resorts are very well experienced and can quickly adapt their operations to meet any challenges.”

Mr Hackworth said it was still to early to say how social distancing rules might affect lift operations and other resort activities.

“Skiing is an outdoor activity, and international experience has shown the risk of virus transmission outdoors is very low,” he said.

“Skiers and snowboarders have real reason to feel optimistic as resorts work as hard as they can to welcome them back.”

Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management CEO Mark Bennetts said it had been great to see so many people visiting the High Country in recent weeks.

“With our two snow factories ready to start making snow in April, we’re working hard to be ready to welcome guests back to Mt Buller and Mt Stirling this snow season,” he said.

Snow resorts are hopeful they’ll be able to have a relatively normal ski season this winter.

“We expect demand to be high this year, and encourage people to book early so that they won’t miss out on all the fun and excitement of a snow holiday.”

Resorts are yet to release details on ski lift prices as they are awaiting guidance from the state government on health and operational rules in coming weeks.

Falls Creek is freezing the $375 price for its “early bird” resort entry season permit if a deposit is paid by March 29 and the balance by April 15.

The resort’s CEO Stuart Smythe said that 2020 had been very tough, but resort guests had been very understanding and supportive given the circumstances.

“So freezing prices and increasing flexibility is a small gesture of thanks,” he said.

“We can’t wait to see everyone back in the resort this season although we are mindful that government health directives may still be in place and followed by visitors.”

About 10,000 jobs depend on the state’s snow tourism industry.

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Originally published as Virus warning for 14 Melbourne suburbs, border to remain open to Queensland