The outbreak of COVID-19 in regional Victoria has grown, with a new case reported in an aged care worker in Echuca, on the Murray River.
Key points:
- The aged care worker who tested positive lives in Kyabram and works in Echuca
- Goulburn Valley Health expects the number of active cases in Shepparton to pass 70 today
- More than 500 health sector staff had been furloughed in Shepparton
Echuca Community for the Aged said a worker at its Wharparilla Lodge facility has tested positive for the virus and residents are being monitored for symptoms.
It is understood the staff member lives in Kyabram and works in Echuca, and is the partner of a positive case in the Shepparton outbreak.
COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said the aged care worker was fully vaccinated and only in the community for a short period.
"She last worked on the 20th of August, so we believe it's a very short exposure period in terms of her presumed infectious period," he said.
Mr Weimar said there was a response team working on the case and 40 staff had been furloughed at the facility.
Echuca Regional Health chief executive Nick Bush said the aged care facility is in lockdown.
"Victorian Department of Health notified Echuca for the Aged that there was a positive case and they've organised for that staff member to self isolate and is well," he said.
The centre has not yet been added to Victoria's list of COVID-19 exposure sites, but an Aldi supermarket in Echuca has been listed for an exposure period on August 20.
A number of exposure sites have also been listed in Kyabram.
Shepparton outbreak grows
AAP: Daniel Pockett
)Meanwhile cases continue to grow in Shepparton, with health authorities recording 10 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, taking the total number of cases in the outbreak to 79.
Mr Weimar said the government was reviewing some exposure sites in the town, with the Orrvale Primary School downgraded from a tier 1 to a tier 2 site.
"That's about 500 primary close contacts that will be released from their isolation when they've completed a negative test result," Mr Weimar said.
Four cases were also confirmed yesterday in Merrigum, west of Shepparton.
Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp urged people not to delay getting tested if they have symptoms or have been to one of more than 100 exposure sites in the city.
"Obviously with people still testing positive there's still virus moving around in the community and it's really important that people who do have symptoms of COVID-19 come forward and get tested straight away," he said.
ABC Shepparton: Courtney Howe
)Goulburn Valley Health said 510 staff had been furloughed, and that was having a significant effect on services.
"We have redeployed people or moved people from other areas to maintain those critical essential services such as our emergency department and operating theatres," Mr Sharp said.
Supermarkets in the area have also faced a critical staff shortage, resulting in a lack of access to basic groceries as stores struggle to transport goods and get them on shelves.
Coles said in a statement they had redirected resources from Bendigo, Wodonga and Craigieburn to outbreak-affected areas.
"We are pleased to let our Shepparton customers know we have increased Coles Online capacity by 350 per cent," a Coles spokesperson said.
They also noted a 630 per cent volume increase of online orders being delivered to homes in Shepparton.
Around 80 Australian Defence Force personnel are in Shepparton to support community relief efforts, with ADF staff also supporting testing services.
More than 20,000 people have now been tested in Shepparton and surrounding areas in the past week.
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2021-08-26 23:44:00Z
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