Homeless sex worker among growing Melbourne Covid cluster
There are fears for a growing Covid-19 cluster in Melbourne’s southeast after a sex worker tested positive for the virus.
Victoria recorded 24 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday morning.
Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters on Wednesday a sex worker is among the cases in St Kilda in Melbourne’s southeast.
“I stress there is no evidence of transmission having occurred because of this person’s sex worker occupation,” he said.
“But out of caution, we are asking that if you have employed a sex worker in the St Kilda’s area, you need to come forward and get tested. No matter where you are, you need to come forward and get tested.”
Mr Foley added pleasingly all close contacts of the sex worker have returned negative Covid tests.
Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said there is no evidence the sex worker is the missing link between 15 cases in the St Kilda area between Caufield North and Middle Park, “which are all very different”.
“I stress there are no known linkages between the 15 individuals I’ve called out in that broader St Kilda area at all,” Mr Weimar said.
“So, apart from a cluster of cases around the engagement party, seven in that set, the others are all very disassociated and we’re very keen to understand what those linkages might be.”
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He added health authorities believe there are other cases missing including an undetected index case.
Two of the cases in St Kilda are homeless people, he said.
It’s believed the sex worker, a woman, is one of these cases.
There are 12 people battling the virus in Victoria’s hospitals, including two in intensive care, though they are not on ventilators.
Melbourne is 13 days into its sixth lockdown, which was extended on Monday until September 2.
With AAP
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