Victorian health authorities have issued an alert over a COVID-19 case in Shepparton, after the state recorded 55 new locally acquired cases.
Key points:
- It is the first detection of a case in regional Victoria during the state's most recent outbreak
- A vaccination hub in Frankston and dozens of shops and supermarkets across Melbourne are among recent exposure sites
- Authorities fear there are still untested cases in the St Kilda area and in an industrial precinct at Sunshine West
It is the first detection of a case in regional Victoria during the state's most recent outbreak.
In a statement, Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said a positive case at Shepparton had been reported this morning.
"This person is currently at home and isolating," he said.
"Contact tracing is underway and will continue as a primary focus of GV Health's Local Public Health Unit.
"Further details regarding any community locations of concern will be provided once this information is known and if it represents a concern.
"Anyone identified as a close contact will be contacted directly by the tracing team.
"Exposure sites will be published during the day as more information becomes available."
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Restrictions were eased in the regions within the first week of lockdown, after Premier Daniel Andrews cited a "degree of containment" around the Melbourne outbreak.
But for days authorities have been sounding concern over repeated wastewater detections in Shepparton which dated back to August 9 to 16.
Similar detections have also caused concern at Lakes Entrance in Gippsland, with virus fragments picked up between August 8 and 11.
Minority of new cases were quarantined while infectious
Just 25 of the state's 55 cases recorded on Thursday were quarantined during their infectious period.
Contact tracers have identified the source of infection for 49 of the cases.
The state processed 48,273 test results on Thursday and delivered 28,601 vaccine doses at state-run hubs.
There are more than 530 exposure sites listed in Victoria, including a Frankston vaccination hub and dozens of supermarkets and other essential shops across Melbourne added last night.
On Thursday, COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said 2,000 close contacts were due to leave quarantine today and he was anticipating new case numbers could be similar to Wednesday's figure of 57.
"I'd expect to see again a fairly significant number of people who will test positive day 13, and they'll kick on for their isolation period," Mr Weimar told ABC Radio Melbourne.
St Kilda testing blitz to help solve mystery cases
Around 1,700 tests were taken across St Kilda sites on Thursday, as authorities try to understand the chains of transmission connecting a concerning number of mystery cases from the area.
Health authorities have asked anyone who lives, works or spends time in St Kilda and surrounding areas from Middle Park to North Caulfield to get tested.
ABC News: Darryl Torpy
)Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie has also flagged concern about a number of recent wastewater detections in areas without recent positive cases.
Professor Cowie said the industrial precinct in Sunshine West was of particular concern, with repeated strong detections from August 8 to August 18.
He said there were a number of businesses in the area, with "a lot" of staff, suggesting it was "more likely than not" that someone who works in the area currently has COVID-19.
"So my message is that if you work in that industrial precinct, come forward to be tested now, even if you don't have symptoms," Professor Cowie said.
The public housing tower at 240 Wellington Street, Collingwood, has also been designated a tier 2 site after wastewater detections there.
Federal treasurer says Australians must accept reality of 'living with the virus'
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this morning assured Victorians that the federal government would continue to support the state through the lockdown.
But he warned ongoing support would not be sustainable once vaccination targets agreed upon by National Cabinet were reached.
Mr Frydenberg said Australians had to understand that the nation would not be able to completely eliminate the virus.
"It's a fallacy to talk about elimination or expect us to reach elimination," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Victoria's Minister for Industry Support & Recovery Minister Martin Pakula disagreed, stating elimination was possible for the state.
"The aim with this two-week extension is to remove all of the traces of community transmission. We've done it two or three times before," Mr Pakula said.
"It's not at all out of the question that we can get those numbers back down to the place they were only a few weeks ago where we didn't have cases circulating in the community."
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Victoria records 55 local COVID-19 cases, positive case in Shepparton - ABC News
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