Two new Covid cases linked to Sydney outbreak, border slams shut

A second coronavirus case has emerged from a Sandringham dry cleaners after a man who flew to Melbourne from NSW tested positive.

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A second man has tested positive after being linked to a dry cleaners in Sandringham, and new exposure sites were added on Thursday night.

Henry Li was tested on Thursday morning and received his results at lunchtime.

The 61-year old, who owns Sandringham Dry Cleaners, said his wife and two sons had tested negative on Thursday but they were still awaiting results for his nephew’s test.

It is believed Mr Li caught the virus from an employee at the dry cleaners, who tested positive on Thursday morning after returning from Sydney on Sunday.

The employee, who lives in Oakleigh and works as a dry cleaner in Sandringham, caught Jetstar flight JQ523 on June 20, leaving Sydney at 5.30pm and arriving in Melbourne at 7.40pm.

Anyone who was in Terminal 4 between 6.55pm and 7.40pm on June 20 must get tested and isolate for 14 days from the time of exposure.

Anyone who visited Sandringham Dry Cleaners, on Bay Rd, on June 23, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, on June 22, from 10am to 3pm, or on June 21, from 9am to 4pm must also get tested and quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure.

Seven Tier Two exposure sites were added on Thursday night.

Three locations were shops at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, including Autograph on June 22 between 11.50am and 1pm, Colonial Fruit Company between 12.30pm and 1.10pm on June 22 and Yang Yang Asian Grocery 12.40pm to 1.20pm on June 22.

The Black Rock Convenience Store at 185 Bluff Rd was listed twice, from 10am to 10.20am on June 23 and 5.05pm to 5:20pm on June 23.

Others were Woolworths Burwood East - Burwood Heights Shopping Centre between 5.30pm and 6.15pm on June 21, Coles Oakleigh Central, on Hanover and Portman St, between 9.15pm and 9.45pm on June 20 and the 901 bus from Melbourne Airport / Grants Rd to Broadmeadows Station / Pascoe Vale Rd (Broadmeadows) from 7.42pm to 7.55pm on June 20.

A man who has been diagnosed with Covid caught a Jetstar flight to Melbourne from Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Sarah Matray

The health department said the owner was the man’s only workplace close contact.

“His family has been isolated and are being tested, and urgent public health actions are under way to understand the case’s movements,” the health department said.

“QR code data from this business is being analysed and close contacts are being identified and contacted by public health officials with advice.”

“The business has been closed for deep cleaning.”

Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said the man attended his daughter’s house in Sydney for an event over the weekend, which at the time was listed as a green zone.

Victorian authorities are still investigating at which Sydney event the man caught the virus.

It’s not confirmed whether he attended a birthday party in West Hoxton, which has since been deemed a superspreading event by NSW authorities, or at another party.

The man developed symptoms at 10pm on Tuesday night after his return from Sydney and got tested on Wednesday.

The Department of Health was notified of positive result on Thursday morning.

Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said the man had attended an event in Sydney. Picture: David Crosling

“We are obviously working through his movements on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” Mr Weimar said.

“The advice I have, hot off the press as it were, is that he displayed symptoms late on Tuesday night.

“What that end means for his infectivity, we are working through that as we speak.”

Mr Weimar said exposure sites would be updated on Thursday afternoon and confirmed the man likely interacted with customers at work.

“There’s a lot of work for us to do,” he said.

“This is a rapidly developing situation in NSW,” Health minister Martin Foley said.

He said now was “not the time for selfish behaviour”.

“Anyone who puts the health and safety of the Victorian community at risk will be held to account by our authorities,” he said.

Genomic testing is under way to determine the variant, but given the epidemiological patterns in Sydney, public health officials suspect it’s the highly infectious Delta variant.

Acting Premier James Merlino confirmed the new case would not impact planned easing of restrictions in Victoria.

Another local case was recorded earlier on Thursday, a known primary close contact linked to the Kings Park complex.

That person has been quarantining throughout their infectious period.

Three new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine over the past 24 hours.

The state now has 52 active cases and 22,812 test results were received.

Health Minister Martin Foley said given the patterns of the Delta variant‘s concern spreading around Sydney, the government was taking a “conservative approach” and working on the basis it was the same strain.

Sydney residents will be barred from entering Victoria from Friday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

GREATER SYDNEY NOW A RED ZONE

More than six million Sydney residents will be barred from entering Victoria from Friday after the Acting Premier deemed the city a red zone.

On Wednesday, James Merlino declared seven local government areas in Sydney were red zones, but extended that on Thursday to include all of Greater Sydney and Wollongong.

The red zone classification will be in place from 1am on Friday, just as Victoria eases restrictions brought about after its two-week lockdown earlier this month.

Read the full story here

NEW MASK RULES FOR WEDDINGS

Brides and grooms will be forced to don a mask as they walk down the aisle.

Acting Premier James Merlino moved to clarify on Thursday that the masks mandate would extend to couples tying the knot indoors.

“It depends on the nature of the service — if the service is indoors then I would imagine the answer is yes,” he said.

Liberal MP Brad Battin slammed the rule as nonsensical.

“Imagine on the happiest day of your life, your smile in every photo is covered by a mask. The Andrews Labor government has no heart,” he said.

“It makes no sense to wear a mask on your wedding day.”

Mr Battin added: “I hope you can remove the mask for the traditional kiss after your vows”.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the state was in a ‘more stable’ position to ease restrictions.

FURTHER LOCKDOWNS NOT RULED OUT

Chief health officer Brett Sutton had earlier refused to rule out future lockdowns as Victoria prepares to take another step out of restrictions.

The relaxed restrictions, from Friday, will remain in place for at least two weeks before any further easing.

Professor Sutton on Wednesday said the state was in a “more stable” position to ease restrictions, but added: “It’s not a signal that it’s all behind us.

“There are continuing challenges through this winter and this week.”

It was hoped that within two weeks the state could return to the same “Covid normal” settings in place before lockdown.

Under those settings, Victorians would be free to move around, with no restrictions or crowd caps for venues, gatherings and home visits.

“That’s clearly again our aspiration. We need to see it play out over the week and fortnight ahead, but wouldn’t it be good if we can get there,” Prof Sutton said, acknowledging people had been “appropriately” more frustrated and angrier during this lockdown.

But business leaders have slammed the restrictions as a “bunch of complications”.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said most industries would continue to “crawl” out of restrictions despite no community transmission.

Covid restrictions will be eased across Victoria on Friday.

“We should’ve taken a giant leap out of restrictions … As of Friday morning, every Victorian can fly to Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Auckland and enjoy a restriction-free lifestyle that they can’t enjoy in Victoria,” he said.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the “confusing” restrictions were a burden on already-struggling industries.

“The ongoing slow easing of restrictions seems more based on the gut feel of Professor Sutton … These rules make no sense (and) they are needlessly complex,” he said.

While there’s some relief for footy and theatre fans, organisers of small-scale events such as exhibitions are pleading for the same treatment. Save Victorian Events spokesman Simon Thewlis said smaller functions brought the most benefits to the community.

“The government seems focused on sports and a few major events. They’re the ones that provide good photo opportunities and bragging rights,” he said.

Tipico restaurant co-owner Marco Scalisi welcomed the small increase in customers, but said density quotas could not continue into the future.

“It’s not sustainable long term. We have tables and chairs empty because of this rule,” he said. “We need to fill our space with customers.”

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has resisted putting the state into lockdown as Bondi outbreak has ballooned to 37 cases — more than Victoria had when plunged into its latest lockdown.

Instead, she introduced localised restrictions, saying Sydneysiders would not be “burdened” with a lockdown unless absolutely necessary.

“I am confident that if we adhere to the health orders, we will have a good chance of getting on top of this outbreak.”

Originally published as Two new Covid cases linked to Sydney outbreak, border slams shut