Woolworths, Coles and Nando's listed among new Covid exposure sites
Several highly-frequented locations in Melbourne's north have been identified as exposure sites after the emergence of four local Covid-19 cases on Monday.
The cases, a man in his 30s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s and a pre-school aged child, are all from the same family across three households in Whittlesea. Contract tracers have so far established 10 new sites the family members have visited and where authorities fear further transmission may have occurred.
Listed is the same Woolworths store in Epping North that a Wollert man who tested positive earlier this month had visited. On Friday the Department of Health revealed they had wrongly informed the public that supermarket was the Epping store, roughly four kilometres away.
However Health Minister Martin Foley said there was no indication the man's case and the latest cluster are linked, with an infected male visiting the supermarket once the Wollert man was already in quarantine.
Mr Foley said he could not rule out whether an additional person was a missing link.
“We are concerned, without a doubt," he told reporters.
If available, genomic testing results will provide a clearer picture on Tuesday.
Late on Monday the Department of Health issued an updated list of Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites in the Epping, Reservoir and Brunswick areas.
Among the locations was a Coles Express in Reservoir and the Nando's in Epping.
The new exposure sites mean thousands of shoppers are now in isolation, the Herald Sun reported.
Victoria should brace for more cases, CHO warns
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned the state it should prepare itself for further cases.
"We have to ready ourselves for any other positives, and when there are close contacts who do become positive, that raises the possibility that even a casual contact could become positive as well," he said.
He said it was vital Melburnians remembered winter was soon arriving which meant people would be spending more time indoors, increasing the chance of infection if the virus is present.
Mr Foley flagged no immediate changes to COVID-19 restrictions, and all domestic borders remain open despite most states and territories issuing updated travel advice for recent Victorian arrivals.
The latest outbreak snapped Victoria's 86-day streak without a locally acquired case.
Tier 1 Covid-19 exposure sites
Anyone who visited the following locations must get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Jump! Swim Schools, Bundoora. 4/37 The Concord, Bundoora VIC 3083 - May 21 8:55am - 10:15am
Nando's, Epping. Shop 17 Dalton Village, 351-371 Dalton Road, Epping VIC 3076 - May 19 8:30pm - 9:20pm
Woolworths, Epping North. Shop 13, 2 Lyndarum Drive, Epping VIC 3076 - May 22 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong. 120-200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong VIC 3032 May 20
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Tier 2 Covid-19 exposure sites
Anyone who visited the following locations must get tested and isolate until receiving a negative result.
Futsal Oz, Brunswick. 409 Victoria Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 - May 23 9:00am - 10:00am
Epping North Shopping Centre. 2 Lyndarum Drive, Epping VIC 3076 - May 22 4:45pm - 5:50pm
House and Party, Epping. 2 Lyndarum Drive, Epping VIC 3076 - May 22 5:15pm - 5:50pm
Urban Diner Food Court, Epping. Pacific Epping Shopping Centre 571-583 High Street, Epping VIC 3076
May 23 1:15pm - 2:30pm
Shell Coles Express, Reservoir. 192-202 Broadway & Whitelaw Street, Reservoir VIC 3073 - May 18 3:15pm - 4:15pm
B.T. Connor Reserve, Reservoir. 200 Broadhurst Avenue, Reservoir VIC 3073 - May 21 8:00pm - 11:30pm
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