Victoria has recorded 57 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, 44 of whom were quarantined while infectious.
Key points:
- Authorities are "exceptionally concerned" about transmission around St Kilda
- There are more than 550 exposure sites, including supermarkets and essential stores
- Staff have been furloughed at Footscray Hospital after a medical imaging technologist tested positive
Contact tracers have linked 54 of the cases back to the state's outbreak.
Victoria processed 49,607 test results on Wednesday and delivered 27,581 vaccine doses at state-run sites.
There are nearly 15,000 primary close contacts in quarantine, and Health Minister Martin Foley yesterday foreshadowed a jump in numbers as people returned their day-13 tests.
Authorities are increasingly concerned by the number of mystery cases being identified around St Kilda, Middle Park and Caulfield, in Melbourne's inner south-east.
"We're really encouraging anyone who lives, works, or visits or actively uses that St Kilda area to please consider coming forward to get tested," COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said on Wednesday.
There are more than 550 exposure sites, including supermarkets and essential stores from across Melbourne added in the past 24 hours.
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Victoria's testing rate has continued to climb, exceeding the 40,000 benchmark previously flagged by Mr Foley.
Victoria's daily testing record is 59,355 tests, set during the last lockdown.
The state government has launched a campaign with the tagline "only a test can tell", in a bid to encourage Victorians not to let mild symptoms pass by without a COVID-19 test.
Premier Daniel Andrews has said while vaccines are the long-term path out of heavy restrictions, only sustained high testing rates will get Melbourne out of its current outbreak.
Melbourne kindergarten exposure site escalates after contact refuses testing
A kindergarten in a Melbourne hotspot suburb has been reclassified as a tier 1 site, sending children and parents into 14 days of quarantine, after a person associated with the site refused testing.
The York Street Kindergarten in Glenroy is listed as a tier 1 site from 9:00am to 5:00pm on August 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
In a letter sent to parents and seen by the ABC, the kindergarten said "the reclassification was necessary due to the fact that an individual associated with the site has declined the public health instruction to get tested".
"Please be assured that every effort has been made by the North Eastern Public Health Unit, Department of Health, Department of Education, Northern School Early Years Cluster and Glenroy Primary School to avoid the need to reclassify the York Street Kindergarten site," the email said.
"However, given the circumstances and in prioritising the health and safety of our kinder families and all Victorians, the reclassification is essential."
People cannot be compelled to be tested, but under Victoria's state of emergency rules, people who refuse must quarantine for 28 days instead of 14.
Victoria may need to ditch COVID-zero strategy if lockdown fails, expert warns
University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely,said if the current lockdown failed, Victoria would need to have a conversation about abandoning the goal of COVID-zero.
Professor Blakely, whose modelling helped inform the roadmap out of Melbourne's extended lockdown last year, said he agreed with tightened restrictions because the previous settings were not "tipping the balance".
"However, if in two weeks' time, we haven't got to that position where all the cases are occurring amongst people already in quarantine, if we're still seeing mystery cases at that point … I don't know if we could cope with that level of draconian lockdown for much longer," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Professor Blakely said if the virus was still circulating after September 2, there needed to be a "serious discussion" about loosening restrictions and abandoning the goal of COVID-zero.
"We're not ready to make that decision," he said.
"But certainly, trying it for another two weeks. One more heave-ho, another 14 days on top of the 200 and see if we can get back to an elimination state and stay in that state until the vaccination coverage is much higher around November."
Footscray Hospital worker tests positive
Dozens of healthcare workers have been sent into quarantine in Melbourne's west, after a medical imaging technologist at Footscray Hospital tested positive on Tuesday.
In a statement, Western Health said it was not yet clear how the staff member, who worked on Monday, was infected.
Australian Story: Mark Farnell
)The service said contact tracing investigations were continuing.
"All patients who attended appointments during the potential exposure period are being contacted, and 39 Western Health staff have been quarantined," a Western Health spokesperson said.
"Western Health has strict COVID measures in place, including the requirement for all staff to wear N95 masks and eye protection in all clinical areas of our hospitals."
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Victoria records 57 new local COVID-19 cases, 44 quarantined while infectious - ABC News
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