Tate Papworth
Brimbank residents will be forced to wear face masks from Wednesday night as COVID-19 case numbers continue to grow.
Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Sunday based on advice from the chief health officer.
From 11.59pm on Wednesday people living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will be required to wear a face mask when in public.
Those who don’t risk a fine of $200.
People will be exempted if they have a medical reason, a professional reason, or if it’s not practical, like when running.
Children under 12 years of age will also be exempted.
Mr Andrews said it was a drastic, but necessary step.
“I understand this is a big shift and that not being able to see each other’s faces might be confronting. But this virus is incredibly infectious – and this is about keeping people safe,” he said.
“By covering our faces, we’re protecting ourselves, our families and every single Victorian. So please – just as you remember your house keys, please remember something to cover your face.”
It comes as active cases in Brimbank soared to 271 on Monday.
Two major outbreaks which include 40 cases linked to Ardeer based aged care provider Estia Health and 36 cases linked to JBS abattoir in Brooklyn remain cause for concern.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned that as numbers rose, so would the number of people requiring hospital treatment.
“There’s often 10 to 20 per cent of all coronavirus infections who require hospitalisation, so that’s a couple of hundred individuals at least who will require hospitalisation in the next couple of weeks,” professor Sutton told reporters on Tuesday.
Western Health’s Footscray and Sunshine hospitals have both been stretched already and are bracing for more patients.
Western Health acting executive director operations Lebe Malkoun said more than 7500 staff and all clinical and non-clinical staff are supporting the COVID-19 response.
“We are caring for a considerable portion of the patients hospitalised in Melbourne with confirmed COVID-19,” he said.
“As COVID-19 cases keep rising, Western Health remains at the epicentre of outbreaks and the response to managing these.
“These patients are being cared for in appropriate ward settings and in the Intensive Care Units at both Footscray and Sunshine Hospitals.”
He said the hospitals have the capacity to open additional acute and ICU beds if needed.
