Tara Murray
Fears the latest COVID-19 lockdown could extend beyond a second week are growing as case numbers in Melbourne continue to increase.
There were 22 new cases in Melbourne on Monday with the outbreak spreading across multiple suburbs.
Of the 22 cases, 17 are linked to known outbreaks, while 14 have been in isolation throughout their infectious period.
There are currently 205 active cases in Victoria.
On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews said that he still didn’t know what the state’s position would be on Thursday when lockdown is meant to end, but there weren’t good signs.
“There are far too many cases, firstly,” he said.
“There are a number of mystery cases and those numbers continue to grow, and that’s really challenging.”
Mr Andrews also expressed his frustration at a number of parties and social gatherings that were happening, with a number of people not complying with the restrictions.
Locally, the Caroline Springs outbreak continues to grow.
On Sunday there were three new cases linked to the outbreak at the CS Square Shopping Centre.
The new cases are household contacts of people connected to YPA Real Estate and the Jolly Miller Cafe.
The outbreak is related to a staff member who worked at the Spectacle Hub in the shopping centre while infectious.
All staff who worked at the centre between August 2 and 5 have been classified as tier one contacts and are isolating.
The whole centre is listed as a tier two site between July 27 and August 6, while a number of stores are also listed as tier one sites.
A number of other shopping centres, including Brimbank Shopping Centre, Watergardens, Keilor Central, Taylors Hill Village, Central West Shopping Centre, Cairnlea Town Centre and Burnside Hub Shopping Centre are listed as exposure sites.
There are exposure sites in Braybrook, Burnside, Cairnlea, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Hillside, Keilor Downs, Kings Park, Ravenhall, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes, Taylors Hill and Tullamarine.
Victoria’s COVID commander Jeroen Weimar said late last week that testing rates have increased threefold in Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Brimbank, compared to the week before.
“People are coming out in droves and we are working very hard to get to the bottom of these latest outbreaks,” he said.
A new COVID-19 testing site was set up at the Keilor Park Basketball Stadium on Thursday to help with demand.
It will operate 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Details: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites.
