Calls for Newport testing

Pop-up COVID-19 testing centre at BayFit Leisure Centre, Altona North. Photo by Damjan Janevski. 247027_02

Michaela Meade

Health officials have made renewed calls for people connected to the Newport Football Club to come forward for COVID-19 testing.

On Monday, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said the cluster associated with the club was a “continued concern”.

As of Monday, there were 61 known cases of the virus linked to the cluster.

“I’m particularly appealing to… younger men in the Newport and Altona North area,” Mr Weimar said.

“If you’re active in the community, if you’re in your 20s and your 30s, if you’re connected to the footy club, if you’re connected to the gyms… please come forward and get tested.

“We really are concerned about this ongoing emergence of cases.”

It follows over 40 new exposure sites, including three tier one sites, being identified in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay between Saturday and Tuesday.

The tier one exposure sites include Kuz’s Kebabs on Gordon Street, Footscray, Saturday, August 14, 6.30-7.30pm; Woolworths Millers Junction, Altona North, Wednesday, August 18, 2-11pm, Thursday, August 19, 11.30am-9pm, and Friday, August 20, 7am-3.50pm; and the cohealth Footscray lift on Wednesday, August 18, 3.35-4pm.

The health department said anyone who visited any of the sites during the dates and times listed needs to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.