Coronavirus Australia: Victoria records three cases, NSW outbreak grows - NEWS.com.au

Three cases — two women in their 40s and a woman in her 70s — were reported to authorities in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon, and none of them were in hotel quarantine.

Authorities have already been in touch with all three cases’ close contacts and advised them to isolate.

The three cases are from Hallam, Mitcham and Mentone, all in Melbourne’s southeast.

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government says the three new cases are believed to be linked to the Sydney cluster.

Victoria’s Commander of COVID-19 response, Jeroen Weimar, said in a statement that close contacts were identified.

“We have three cases that are self-isolating at home and are being supported and monitored … We have been in this position before and we are deploying our full outbreak approach around these cases,” Mr Weimar said.

“Extensive contact tracing is underway and as a result there are currently more than 40 primary close contacts that are being supported to isolate.”

Victoria is moving quickly to tighten its border restrictions with NSW, where a cluster on the northern beaches is now just one of a number of hot spots. The new rules come into effect from 11:59pm today.

Yesterday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian described an outbreak of six cases in Croydon, in Sydney’s inner-west, as “concerning”. There was also one more infection in Wollongong, 120km south of Sydney.

Things escalated again after her media conference, with a pharmacy in the Blue Mountains suburb of Katoomba breaking the news on social media that a staff member had tested positive for the virus.

The latest alert from NSW Health says people infected with COVID-19 visited a host of venues in southwest Sydney. The suburbs of most concern now include Bankstown, Bass Hill, Punchbowl and Liverpool.

Ms Berejiklian pleaded for anyone in the state with even the mildest of symptoms to come forward for testing in a bid to get on top of the outbreak.

She also announced an urgent tightening of restrictions for New Year’s Eve across Greater Sydney, with indoor gatherings limited to just five people and outdoor groups restricted to 30 until further notice.

“Our preferred advice is that people just stay home for New Year’s Eve, but if (you) must have people over, don’t have more than five and please make sure you have adequate social distancing, good ventilation, all those things Dr Chant and the health experts talk about,” she said.

Read on for the latest news.

Live Updates

Victoria Police say they've arrested a 57-year-old woman for evading a checkpoint and crossing the border from NSW to Victoria in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

"About 4am, a grey Volkswagen Passat station wagon allegedly evaded the Chandlers Creek checkpoint at a fast rate of speed," the police said in a statement.

"A pursuit was initiated but soon terminated owing to increasing risk to the community, caused by the alleged manner of the woman's driving.

"Police will allege the 57-year-old Bateau Bay woman had earlier attempted to enter Victoria and was directed to return to NSW and make an application for a permit to enter the state.

"An off-duty police officer spotted the woman driving near Nhill, allegedly en route to South Australia, about 5pm on Wednesday afternoon."

NSW Health has issued another list of venues that were visited by confirmed cases of the virus.

If you were at the following location, you need to get tested immediately and then self-isolate until you receive further advice.

+ Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL from 6pm-11.30pm on December 28;

For these next two venues, you are considered a casual contact. That means you should get tested and then isolate until you receive a negative result.

+ Priceline Pharmacy, Rhodes Waterside from 9am-12pm on December 24;

+ BWS Bass Hill, Bass Hill Plaza from 1.10pm-1.30pm on December 24.

Finally, if you visited the following locations, monitor for symptoms of the virus. If they appear, get tested and isolate yourself.

+ Martin Reserve, Croydon Park from 12pm-12.40pm on December 27;

+ Costco Lidcombe from 10am-10.20am and 4.20pm-4.45pm on December 24;

+ Bunnings Lidcombe from 4pm-4.20pm on December 24;

+ BCF (Boating Fishing Camping), Auburn from 10.15am-10.45am on Wednesday December 23.

NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues that have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. The…
Posted by NSW Health on Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Victoria is imposing new restrictions on its border with NSW from 11.59pm tonight. They apply to people who have previously been issued Green Zone permits for the Blue Mountains and Wollongong.

"Green Zone permits that were issued for the Blue Mountains and Wollongong are no longer valid," the Department of Health says.

"You must apply for a new travel permit through Service Victoria, get tested within 24 hours of returning to Victoria, and self-quarantine at home for 14 days from where you last left the region.

"Victoria's border with NSW remains closed and no one who has been in the northern beaches area, Greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast can enter.

"The rest of NSW is designated as a 'Green Zone'. If you hold a Green Zone permit, your permit is still valid and you will not be required to apply for a new permit.

"Residents in border communities do not require a permit, however you must travel with your driver's licence or other valid photo ID with your address details."

The state government "strongly advises" Victorians not to travel to NSW, as they may find themselves unable to re-enter without spending 14 days in hotel quarantine.

Update: New border restrictions will come into effect from 11:59pm 31 December.
If you have visited the Blue Mountains or Wollongong regions from 27 December, you have until then to return to Victoria.
Thread ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/GFAMN380ku
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 30, 2020

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Welcome to our live coverage for December 31. Sadly, the last day of 2020 has given us no respite from the bad news.

Last night, following the revelation that Victoria had recorded three locally acquired cases of the virus, the Department of Health released a list of exposure sites.

If you visited any of the locations listed below during the dates and times indicated, you must get tested and isolate until you get a negative result.

+ Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic, Doveton from 4pm-6pm on December 26;

+ Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts and Lacoste at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre from 9am-11am on December 26;

+ Century City Walk and Mocha Jo's in Glen Waverley from 1.30pm-5pm on December 28;

+ Katialo restaurant in Eaton Mall, Oakleigh from 7pm-8.15pm on December 28;

+ Mentone/Parkdale Beach from 10am-4.30pm on December 27.

Update: three positive cases in Mitcham, Hallam and Mentone. Each case are self-isolating at home and are being supported and monitored. Extensive contact tracing is underway. pic.twitter.com/dgmDQtgTZl
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 30, 2020

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