Australia Corona Virus

More coronavirus exposure sites likely after fifth local Melbourne case

SOURCE:9news

Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s west has been identified as a Tier One coronavirus exposure site, meaning hundreds who attended the centre during the specified times must get tested and isolate until further notice.The list of potential exposure sites is also expected to change further after a fifth case of coronavirus was linked to Melbourne’s recent local outbreak.The list currently stands at 10 venues across five suburbs with five members of a Melbourne family testing positive.

Melbourne exposure sites. (Today)

The fifth case, a man in his 60s, is being interviewed and health authorities warn the list of venues is subject to change.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the Highpoint exposure site would likely scale back to a different tier, once specific stores have been identified through CCTV. As of last night, there were 35 primary close contacts linked to a Bundoora swim school exposure site who are being tested as a “matter of urgency”. 

Four other households and household close contacts of the cases from yesterday have all returned negative test results.

Public health alerts date as far back as May 18 and include shopping centres, a swim school, supermarkets, restaurants and a sporting venue.The cases are linked to the same family across multiple different households in the Whittlesea area in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne.Genomic testing has confirmed the cases are connected to the recent Wollert positive case, which was sourced back to a quarantine hotel in South Australia.Victoria’s Department of Health has released the below list of venues of concern:

Tier one exposure sites (Get tested urgently and quarantine for 14 days from exposure)

  • May 19: Nando’s Epping (Dalton Road), Epping, 8.30pm-9.20pm
  • May 20: Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong, 5pm-8pm
  • May 21: Jump! Swim School, Bundoora, 8.55am-10am
  • May 22: Woolworths Epping North, Epping, 4.45pm-5.45pm
Highpoint Shopping Centre has been listed as a coronavirus exposure site. (Simon Schluter/The Age)

Tier two (Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result)

  • May 18: Shell Coles Express Reservoir, Reservoir, 3.15pm-4.15pm
  • May 21: BT Connor Reserve, Reservoir, 8pm-11.30pm
  • May 22: Epping North Shopping Centre, Epping, 4.45pm-5.50pm
  • May 22: House and Party shop, Epping, 5.15pm-5.50pm
  • May 23: Futsal Brunswick, Brunswick, 9am-10am
  • May 23: Urban Diner Food Court, Pacific Epping Shopping Centre, Epping, 1.15pm-2.30pm

Yesterday afternoon, Professor Brett Sutton said he believed the child who tested positive was part of a swimming class at the Jump! Swim School in Bundoora on May 21.

He said health authorities did not yet know how many close contacts were at the premises when the positive case attended the centre.