Tag Archives: oceania

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New case linked to Melbourne quarantine hotel cluster

Today's new local case of COVID-19 in Victoria is a friend of one of the Holiday Inn quarantine hotel workers – the 14th case linked to the cluster.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews provided the update during a media conference on day one of a five-day snap lockdown.

The new case's family and household contacts are now also being tested, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed today.

READ MORE: One new case of community transmission in Victoria

https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1360350274787901440

"In terms of the Holiday Inn more broadly, as of last night, we've identified 996 known primary close contacts related to that particular facility and the people who work in it," Mr Andrews said.

Most Brunetti Cafe staff test negative

Eleven of 12 staff at Brunetti Cafe at Melbourne Airport have tested negative to the virus.

An infectious employee worked there for eight hours, sparking a widespread warning for Terminal 4 at the airport.

"That is very significant," Mr Andrews said.

https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS/status/1360407352730505217

"They were at the highest risk of exposure given their proximity to the affected coworker.

"It doesn't mean all the challenges in association with that business, their customers and the terminal for issues are over, far from it but its positive news, you prefer to be getting negative results and positive."

More exposure sites revealed

A number of new exposure sites have been revealed, Victoria's testing commander Jeroen Weimar has confirmed.

Among the new locations is a "private dining venue" at 426 Sydney Road, Coburg.

Others are listed below:

  • Coates Hire Werribee, Hoppers Crossing
  • Caltex Woolworths, Hoppers Crossing
  • Craigieburn train line
  • 513 Eltham to Glenroy bus route
  • 901 Frankston to Melbourne Airport bus route
  • Brunetti: Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport
  • Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport

PM agrees to suspend international flights into Melbourne

The Prime Minister has agreed to suspend flights into Melbourne for the next five days after a request from the Victorian Premier.

"It's not instantaneous because flights are already in the air, and people are well and truly on their way to coming home," Mr Andrews said.

"They may be in transit, they may be in Singapore or another place, all those issues.

"There will be five more flights arrive. We think there is about 100 passengers on those."

Mr Andrews said any returning Australians "will be taken care of", but there will be no more international flights landing in Melbourne until at least Thursday.

Victoria 'circuit breaker' lockdown begins

Mr Andrews announced a "circuit breaker" lockdown yesterday to stop the spread of the deadly UK variant of coronavirus believed to be much more virulent.

The announcement came after the Holiday Inn cluster in Melbourne grew to 13 and Terminal 4 (Jetstar) at the airport was announced as an exposure site.

The entire state of Victoria was plunged back to Stage Four restrictions at midnight, and can only leave their house for four reasons.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Victoria's five-day lockdown

These are: shopping for necessary goods and services, essential work or education if it cannot be done from home, care and caregiving, and exercise for two hours per day with household members, an intimate partner or one other person only.

A five-kilometre travel radius has also been reinstated and masks must be worn everywhere in public. The Australian Open will continue without fans.

People in quarantine moved after leak

Victoria's Hotel Quarantine boss, Emma Cassar, said some people in quarantine at the Holiday Inn Flinders Lane in Melbourne had been moved after an "incident" involving the fire system.

She said there had been a leak or a burst pipe which had leaked into an unoccupied room and then into a staff area.

She said some residents are being moved to higher floors.

Police Minister in Hospital

Victoria's Police minister, Lisa Neville, is in hospital with "complications associated with a previously diagnosed medical condition."

Ms Neville, who is the minister in charge of hotel quarantine, said this afternoon in a statement she'll be off work until February 22.

She handed her duties over to other MPs.