Michaela Meade
Update: Nine of today’s 80 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases have been linked to the Newport and Altona North cluster.
COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said all nine were in quarantine for the entirety of their infectious periods.
“We still have 85 active cases in the Altona North and Newport area,” Mr Weimar said.
“There’s widespread chains of transmission across the community there.
“We continue to be concerned.
“It is so important that people are supported to get tested and to isolate properly, adn my thanks to the wider community for making all that possible.
“It is encouraging to see people coming forward to get tested.”
Mr Weimar said as of today, there are 600 active cases of COVID-19 in the community.
Earlier: The COVID-19 exposure periods for Woolworths Millers Junction in Altona North have been broadened, again.
The site has been the cause of growing concern among health officials, who fear a number of people have been exposed to the virus at the store.
On Monday, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar urged anyone who had visited the store during known exposure times to get tested.
“If you were in that area, if you didn’t use the QR check in, please let us know,” he said.
“I really ask everybody to please check those exposure sites, and if you’re in that area, come forward and get tested.”
The Department of Health is now asking anyone who visited the supermarket on Friday August 13, Monday August 16, Tuesday August 17, Wednesday August 18, Thursday August 19 or Friday August 20 to get tested urgently and isolate until they receive a negative result. The store has been declared a tier two exposure site for these days.
The department has also listed a repair shop in Williamstown as a tier one exposure site.
Anyone who visited Melbourne A Class Smash Repairs on Orange Street on Friday, August 20 between 8.50am and 5.30pm must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Several other sites in Hobsons Bay and the city of Maribyrnong have been identified as tier two exposure sites.
They include:
– Coles at Footscray Plaza Shopping Centre on Sunday, August 22 6:40pm-6:40pm;
– 7-Eleven West Footscray on Sunday, August 22 between 12pm and 12.35pm;
– Splash n Dash Laundry on Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong on Sunday, August 22 between 5pm and 6.30pm;
– Chemist Warehouse Footscray on Monday, August 23 between 1.20pm and 2.05pm;
– Coles Express on Napier Street and Moreland Street, Footscray on Monday, August 23 between 1.10pm and 1.45pm; and
– Golden Oven Bakery on Blackshaws Road, Altona North on Monday, August 23 between 11am and 11.35am.
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
