Melbourne (Tribune International, Victoria Govt Release, 22 July 2021): Victoria was notified of 28 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.
Twenty-six are locally acquired cases linked to the recent interstate incursions of COVID-19.
There were two new cases reported in recently returned international travellers in hotel quarantine – a man aged in his 30s and a woman aged in her 20s.
There were 146 active cases in Victoria – 133 locally acquired and 13 overseas acquired cases.
There were five COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria yesterday. One case is in intensive care.
The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,865.
Outbreaks
Of the 26 new locally acquired cases, all have been linked to the current outbreaks.
Twenty-four of the 26 cases were in isolation throughout the entirety of their infectious period.
One case initially tested negative as a Tier 2 contact at AAMI Park, was released from isolation and spent one day in the community before being re-classified as a Tier one close contact. Prahran Market and the nearby Market Lane Coffee have been listed as Tier 1 exposure sites. When contacted by the Department, he immediately isolated and got tested again. The other case is linked to the Trinity Grammar outbreak and stopped briefly at a petrol station in Heyfield on their return to place of residence after being notified of the need to isolate. The petrol station is now listed as a Tier 2 exposure site.
There have been a total of 133 cases in Victoria in the 10 days of this outbreak.
Of the 26 new community cases reported today:
Seven are linked to Trinity Grammar.
Six are linked to Ms Frankie in Cremorne.
Five are linked to St Patrick’s Primary School in Murrumbeena.
Two are linked to the Phillip Island community outbreak.
Two are linked to the Mildura community outbreak.
Two are linked to the City of Hume outbreak.
One is linked to AAMI Park.
One is linked to the Melbourne Cricket Ground outbreak.
More than 19,000 primary close contacts have been identified by the Department.
There are a large number of people in isolation from AAMI Park and the MCG exposures sites. Many of the MCG primary close contacts will undergo day 13 testing tomorrow and will then go through clearance processes with the department when they return negative test results.
Exposure sites are published at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
The Department regularly manages exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, or if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact tracing measures, or if they identify small, private locations.
We continue to ask every Victorian to check exposure sites regularly, as they are subject to change based on follow-up interviews and further investigation.
Update: Border Permit pause and Zone Change for South Australia
The Chief Health Officer has introduced a temporary pause to the issuing of Red Zone Permits.
Victorian residents in red zones can currently only enter Victoria with an exemption, exception or another valid permit, such as a Specified Worker Permit.
Exemptions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
If people enter Victoria from New South Wales without an exemption, they will be put on a return flight or placed in 14 days mandatory quarantine in the COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) program.
See the Victorian Government’s statement at https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/extended-lockdown-and-stronger-borders-keep-us-safe
See more about Victoria’s travel permit system at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-travel-permit-system.
From 11.59pm last night, South Australia became a red zone.
South Australia is declared as an orange zone from that date retrospectively to 12 July.
Public health engagement teams, supported by Defence personnel, continue to visit people currently in isolation after returning to Victoria on red zone permits. Yesterday the teams made 436 visits with the vast majority of close contacts isolating properly.
Update: Testing
In another strong day for testing, 43,674 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.
In response to the current cases in Victoria, extended operating hours have been introduced at multiple testing sites.
See new and extended testing sites, where to get tested and expected wait times at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19.
Update: Vaccinations
Yesterday, 14,230 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.
The total number of doses administered through these services is 1,453,158.
Victoria’s online booking system is now live at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment or you can ring the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
The Victorian Government continues to ramp up efforts to protect vulnerable Victorians from contracting COVID-19 by launching pop-up vaccination clinics for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
Pop-up clinics will begin at services operated by community health organisation CoHealth in the Melbourne CBD, Collingwood and Footscray. Each vaccination team will include two community health nurses, a social worker and a worker who has experienced homelessness, with clinics having the capacity to vaccinate 40 people per day.
Dozens more pop-up sites will be established in the weeks ahead across Melbourne’s inner north, inner west and CBD.
More information can be found at: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/pop-vaccination-site-people-experiencing-homelessness
Information about Victoria’s vaccination centres can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres.
Reminder: Advice for AAMI Park
Members of the public at AAMI Park for the Wallabies v France match on Tuesday 13 July are asked to follow the following advice for this exposure site, which is of significant concern to public health teams.
We have expanded the Tier 1 exposure site and upgraded a large number of people who were Tier 3 to Tier 2 contacts.
MAP OF VENUE: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/aami-park-exposure-site-location
TIER 1 EXPOSURE SITE – immediately isolate, get tested and quarantine for 14 days, and contact the Department on 1300 651 160:
- Anyone seated in Zone 2, Level 1 (entering through Gate 7) in Sections 22, 23 and 24 (Aisles 20-23, Rows A to U, Seats 378-457.) This is represented by the purple sections 22, 23 and 24 in the black box of the map above.
- Anyone who entered Gate 7 between 7:56pm and 8:13pm. Gate 7 is shown on the map above.
TIER 2 EXPOSURE SITE – immediately isolate, get tested, and stay isolated until you receive a negative result:
- All other people who entered Gate 7 on July 13. This advice applies to those seated in Sections 25-42 of Zone 2 and who didn’t enter Gate 7 within 7:56pm-8:13pm. See map above.
- All people seated in Sections 81-91. This is represented by the red sections in the map.
TIER 3 EXPOSURE SITE – monitor for symptoms and get tested if any develop:
- All other people at the game who didn’t enter Gate 6, 7 or 8.
If you have previously received different advice based on where you sat in AAMI Park, you must now follow the new advice.
Reminder: Advice for MCG
If you were in the MCC Members’ Reserve for the Geelong vs Carlton game on Saturday 10 July, you may be receiving updated advice from the Department to your phone through ticket and check-in records.
TIER 1 PRIMARY CLOSE CONTACTS:
Attendees considered Primary Close Contacts required to isolate for 14 days are:
- people who attended Percy Beames’ Bar between 4pm and 4:30, and again between 5:20pm and 5:50pm
- people who entered Gate 2 between 3:53pm and 4:06pm
- people seated in sections N40-46 on Level 2 of the Members’ Reserve
- and others identified as having close contact with a confirmed case present
If you are a Primary Close Contact from the MCG, you must be quarantining at home after your first test. You must stay in quarantine and get a day 13 test. You can only leave quarantine once cleared by the Department. If you have any concerns or questions call the Department at 1300 651 160
TIER 2 EXPOSURES – REQUEST FOR RE-TEST:
Other than for the above, all other areas of the MCC Members’ Reserve remain a Tier 2 site – requiring you to isolate, get tested, and stay isolated until you have received a negative result.
If you were on Level 2 of the Members’ Reserve at any stage and have already had one test, the Chief Health Officer is requesting that you obtain a second test when possible following your first.
If you are in this category and you don’t have symptoms, you won’t be required to isolate while waiting for your second test result. However if you do have symptoms, you must isolate until a negative result is received.
Update: Advice for household contacts of a Primary Close Contact
Information is available online for people who are household contacts of a Primary Close Contact.
General advice
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If you are experiencing symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.
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