Goya Dmytryshchak
Three new COVID-19 cases have been recorded at the Arcare Maidstone Residential Aged Care facility, bringing the total number of cases linked to the nursing home to nine.
Victoria recorded 11 new locally acquired cases, bringing the number of active cases to 94.
Health Minister Martin Foley said two of the new Arcare cases were recorded on Sunday but included in Monday’s figures.
“There are the three new cases in Arcare Maidstone bringing the total number to nine, that being one resident and two new staff members,” he said.
“Two of these were announced yesterday by Arcare but were included in today’s numbers.”
COVID-19 testing commander Jeroen Weimar said health authorities were particularly concerned about two exposure sites, Arcare Maidstone and a construction site on Queen Street in the CBD.
“We have over 490 primary close contacts,” he said.
“Over 400 have returned a negative test result, an encouraging step forward, but there are a few more to chase down.”
The Department of Health declared all workers in Arcare’s Magnolia Wing to be close contacts of Sunday’s worker case, and they are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Arcare chief executive Colin Singh Arcare said the facility was working with the federal government to ensure it had enough workers.
“The nine cases reported by the Victorian Department of Health include three residents, four team members and two family members related to the team members,” he said.
“We are closely monitoring our residents and team members for signs and symptoms and further testing is being carried out today.
“We are working closely with the commonwealth Department of Health to ensure we have enough team members to support our residents during this time.
“COVID-19 has been contained to the Magnolia Wing, with strict procedures in place to ensure team members don’t cross over into other areas of the residence, including utilising a separate entrance to the building.”
