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Anxious wait as health authorities probe Covid case

Victoria has recorded no further locally acquired Covid-19 cases as the state fears a potential outbreak for the first time in more than two months after a case in the community was identified on Tuesday.

The Department of Health announced on Wednesday morning it was still waiting to determine how the case became infected.

Genomic testing will be able to determine whether the man acquired the virus while undergoing hotel quarantine in Adelaide at the turn of the month or in the community.

The state was put on alert after the male from the northern Melbourne suburb of Wollert tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton told reporters on Tuesday he was concerned over the emergence of the case. Source: Getty
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton told reporters on Tuesday he was concerned over the emergence of the case. Source: Getty

Health authorities have identified several exposure sites the case, a man in his 30s, visited across Melbourne.

The state is treating the case as being acquired from interstate. It has been included in Wednesday's official numbers.

It follows a similar incident in April when a person returning from Western Australia quarantine tested positive after the spread of the virus inside the quarantine facility. The case did not lead to any further infections for Victoria.

The state's last outbreak came in February when the virus leaked from the Holiday Inn quarantine facility.

The Department of Health reported an impressive 21,461 tests in the previous 24 hour period, a sharp rise from the near 13,000 a day earlier.

The latest case flew into Adelaide from India via the Maldives and Singapore on April 19 before Australia's flight ban began.

SA Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said on Tuesday a man in an adjacent quarantine room had tested positive to the virus.

Testing chief Jeroen Weimar hinted restrictions could be implemented if community transmission was found.

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