Victoria's coronavirus nightmare worsens: State is hit with another huge spike in infections as four schools are shut down and worrying new trend emerges
- Victoria has stalled the easing of lockdown restrictions due to a spike in cases
- Another 19 new COVID-19 cases were recorded across the state on Sunday
- Only one of them is an overseas arrival safely quarantined in a hotel
- Fifth straight day of double-digit new cases, most linked to two outbreaks
- Premier Daniel Andrews said lifting of restrictions would be halted until July 12
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Victoria's surge in coronavirus infections continues as family and work clusters expand and derail plans to reopen the state.
Another 19 cases were diagnosed on Sunday, the fifth straight day of double-digit new infections, and only one of them is an overseas arrival.
The state saw 25, 13, 18 and 21 new cases over the four previous days while the rest of the country had none or just a handful each.
Four cases are linked to known outbreaks and three were identified from about 15,400 routine tests overnight.
Victoria has diagnosed another surge in coronavirus infections as family and work clusters expand and derail plans of Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) to reopen the state
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Sunday announced the state's infectious total had reached 1,836 cases, of which 121 remain active.
'It is still a very serious situation,' Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters on Sunday.
'We have had particularly some concerns around family gatherings, extended family members across many households, visiting each other even when they have been exhibiting mild symptoms.'
Two clusters are driving the outbreak - a family that has 11 infections over nine households, and 13 contractors who worked at the Stamford Plaza hotel.
One of Sunday's new cases was from the family outbreak and three were workers at the hotel. The other eight cases are under investigation.
All but one of Saturday's 25 cases were local transmissions, including infections that health authorities are yet to trace to a source.
The new outbreaks prompted Premier Daniel Andrews to extent the state of emergency by four weeks until July 20.
NSW recorded five new coronavirus cases on Sunday, all of which were returned travellers safely in hotel quarantine.
On Saturday, when Victoria had 25 new cases, NSW and WA each had one - neither locally transmitted - and the rest of the states zero.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Sunday announced the state's infectious total had reached 1,836 cases, of which 121 remain active
Mr Andrews said families gathering (file image pictured) were mainly responsible for the spike which caused him to halt the lifting of coronavirus restrictions on Saturday
The suburban Melbourne council areas of Hume, Brimbank, Casey, Darebin, Moreland and Cardinia have the highest number of new cases since June 1.
A student at Camberwell Grammar School also has the virus, as well as a teacher from Springside Primary School at Caroline Springs.
Two cases are linked to two aged care facilities, Lifeview Willow Wood at Cranbourne and Royal Freemasons Springtime at Sydenham.
One new case from Saturday is also linked to an H&M store at Northland Shopping Centre and another to a family outbreak at Coburg.
This includes a GP who did not work while infectious.
Three protesters at the Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne two weeks ago have tested positive.
It will not be known for up to another week whether they infected other activists during the demonstration.
Mr Andrews said Victorian families were mainly responsible for the coronavirus spike, spreading it between members during social events.
'The experts tell us that, largely, the numbers are being driven by families - families having big get-togethers and not following the advice around distancing and hygiene,' he said.
One of the outbreaks is 13 contractors who worked at the Stamford Plaza hotel (pictured) in Melbourne, with three new cases on Sunday
Testing at a drive through clinic in the carpark of Bunnings in West Footscray
Mr Andrews said about half of the state's cases since the end of April have come from transmission inside someone's home.
'You can see how this could happen. People feeling relaxed at home. Letting their guard down. Letting old habits creep back,' he said.
Mr Andrews was criticised by Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien for blaming the outbreak on Victorian families, but the premier renewed this claim on Sunday.
'The substantial increase in the number of household contacts spreading the virus among extended family groups shows the battle against coronavirus is far from over,' he said.
'As we've seen across the world, this virus can turn a few cases into hundreds in a matter of days.'
Mr Andrews on Saturday stalled the easing of lockdown restrictions and rolled back the number of guests allowed to gather at houses to five.
Restaurants, pubs, auction halls, community halls, libraries, museums and places of worship will stay at a maximum of 20 people in one space until July 12.
They were scheduled to increase capacity from 20 people to 50 on Monday.
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos, and Premier Daniel Andrews arrive to give more bad news about coronavirus outbreaks in the state
It comes after thousands of protesters gathered for a Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne's CBD on June 6. A third protester was on Thursday confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after attending the mass gathering. The effect will not be known for another week
The planned reopening of gyms, cinemas, theatres and TABs on Monday will still go ahead, capped to a maximum of 20 people.
From midnight on Sunday, the number of visitors in a house will be reduced from 20 to five. Outside, people will only be allowed to gather in groups of 10 - a decrease from 20.
Chief Heath Officer Brett Sutton said Victorians may even be forced to wear face masks in public if cases keep going up at this rate.
'Masks have been a hot topic, obviously. The existing national advice has been that they are not required,' he said.
'The World Health Organisation advice has been that masks are really recommended only when physical distancing can't be maintained and where there is high community transmission.
'I remain open to the idea. I think we have to bear in mind that we will do whatever is required that might help to turn things around in Victoria, because we need to get to a point where we are driving numbers back down to zero.'
Restaurants, pubs, auction halls, community halls, libraries, museums and places of worship in Victoria will stay at a maximum of 20 people in one space until July 12. They were scheduled to increase capacity from 20 people to 50 on Monday. Pictured: Cafes in Melbourne's Centre Place open for dine in customers on June 1
Victorian AFL player tests positive
Essendon player Conor McKenna spent 14 days in quarantine and tested negative for the virus five times before eventually testing positive.
He was planned to make a return for the Bombers at a game against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, but that match has been postponed even though his teammates have tested negative.
McKenna is asymptomatic and is said to be doing well.
Though the Saturday match has been postponed, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan reassured fans that all others will proceed.
All of the players and football department staff at the Essendon club will be asked to self-isolate until the health department has finished their investigation.
Essendon Football Club's Conor McKenna has tested positive for the coronavirus. He recently returned to Australia from Ireland
Mr Sutton will discuss the issue with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee later on Sunday.
'I will raise the issue with my AHPPC colleagues, I'm on the phone to them shortly, and I will raise it as a consideration for Victoria, so I remain open to the idea,' he said.
The Premier said he had spoken to Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the possibility of reintroducing a stay at home order to ensure Victorians follow the rules.
'As we've seen across the world, this virus has the ability to turn a few cases into hundreds in a matter of days,' Mr Andrews said.
'That's why we need to delay an increase to gathering limits in businesses and community facilities.'
Mr Andrews also threatened authorities would go door-to-door to make sure close contacts of coronavirus patients who were ordered to self-isolate were doing so.
'We will go door-to-door, getting the message out there to communities across the state that these restrictions are there for everyone,' he said.
'We'll go door to if we have to make sure people are doing the right thing.'
The planned reopening of gyms, cinemas, theatres and TABs on Monday will still go ahead, capped to a maximum of 20 people
The state's Chief Health Officer said Victoria is 'absolutely at risk of a second peak' of COVID-19.
'We are at a point where we have to turn it around or the numbers get beyond us,' Professor Brett Sutton said on Saturday.
'We are indeed at a crossroads.'
A $1,500 payment for those who contract COVID-19 and their close contacts has also been announced.
The cash would go to people who can't afford to take sick leave.
'This is about making sure there's no financial reason for these people not to isolate and to go to work instead,' Mr Andrews said.
Those who are currently working from home are required to continue to do so until July 31.
Victoria's coronavirus spike threatens to delay three Australian states from reopening their borders
The spike in Victorian cases has made health authorities in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia wary of reopening their borders.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said a powerful second wave of coronavirus could be devastating for Queenslanders.
'It will be so much harder on businesses in the long run if we can't stick to our recovery plans because of further outbreaks,' he told The Sunday Mail.
'Queenslanders have done a good job, making many sacrifices, to keep our communities safe.
'This is a reminder that this pandemic is not over for us yet and we cannot afford to become complacent.'
Three Australian states are wary of opening their borders after Victoria had a spike in coronavirus cases on Saturday. Pictured: signage on the Queensland and NSW border in April
Western Australia's government has maintained its hardline border closure will remain for as long as there is sustained community spread of the virus in the eastern states.
Premier Mark McGowan has refused to put a date on welcoming interstate visitors and is likely to further ease restrictions within WA before opening the border.
South Australia is due to reopen on July 20 but its government is closely monitoring the situation in Victoria and has not ruled out staying closed.
'We will not open our borders to Victoria unless it is safe to do so,' Health Minister Stephen Wade said on Saturday.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODQ0MzgyNy9WaWN0b3JpYS1oaXQtc3Bpa2UtY29yb25hdmlydXMtaW5mZWN0aW9ucy5odG1s0gFjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHltYWlsLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZS04NDQzODI3L2FtcC9WaWN0b3JpYS1oaXQtc3Bpa2UtY29yb25hdmlydXMtaW5mZWN0aW9ucy5odG1s?oc=5
2020-06-21 02:20:00Z
52780864550151
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Victoria hit with another spike in coronavirus infections - Daily Mail"
Post a Comment