Michaela Meade
Update: Forty-six of the 79 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported today have been connected to Melbourne’s western suburbs.
COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said 11 of those 46 were connected to the Newport cluster.
Mr Weimar said overall, there are 81 active cases connected to the cluster, and 19 connected to the Newport Football Club.
“We continue to do a lot of work with community leaders, and many agencies in and across the western suburbs,” he said.
“This is accounting for 60 per cent of our cases today.
“It’s a significant area of concern.
“Really we’re looking at some quite significant community transmission that’s now ongoing.
“We really encourage the wider community, particularly the western suburbs, please get tested.”
Earlier: More COVID-19 exposure sites have been identified in Hobsons Bay and the city of Maribyrnong.
It comes as health officials yesterday repeated their concern for potential cases in the Newport and Altona North areas.
As of yesterday, there were 85 cases linked to a cluster in the area.
The health department has listed Borgcraft PtyLtd on Slough Road, Altona as a tier one exposure site.
Anyone who visited the site on Monday, August 23 and Tuesday, August 24, both between 5.30am and 4pm, must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
The health department has also identified tier 2 exposure sites, and advised anyone who attended any of the below sites within the dates and times listed to get tested urgently and isolated until they receive a negative result.
– Edwards Family Meats on Mason Street, Newport on Tuesday, August 17 between 4.45pm and 5.20pm;
– IGA East Altona on The Circ, Altona North on Thursday, August 19 between 9.50am and 10.15am, on Friday, August 20 between 4.55pm and 5.20pm, and on Tuesday, August 24 between 9.20am and 9.50am and between 1.45pm and 2.10pm;
– Woolworths Williamstown on Kororoit Creek Road on Friday, August 20 between 6.30pm and 7.15pm;
– Carnovale Pharmacy & Supercare Pharmacy on Somerville Road, Yarraville on Saturday, August 21 between 9am and 9.40am;
– Cellarbrations Newport on Mason Street on Saturday, August 21 between 2.15pm and 2.40pm;
– Coles Yarraville on the corner of Williamstown Road and High Street on Saturday, August 21 between 2.25pm and 3pm, and on Monday, August 23 between 10.55am and 11.25am; and
– Ramsey Pharmacy Altona North on The Circ on Monday, August 23 between 10.40am and 11.05am.
The state has recorded 79 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, with 53 linked to known outbreaks.
To find out where to get tested: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19
Information on exposure sites: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
