Victoria on track to ease restrictions as state records zero local COVID-19 cases

Victoria has recorded no new local cases of coronavirus, paving the way for restrictions to be eased as planned later this week.

The Health Department confirmed there were no locally acquired cases of COVID-19 recorded in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, though there were three cases in hotel quarantine.

Some 15,067 Victorians were tested and 9997 received a vaccine dose at a state-run hub during the same period.

Reported yesterday: 0 new local cases and 3 new cases acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
– 9,997 vaccine doses were administered
– 15,067 test results were received

More later: https://t.co/0xmnS4N9DN#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/5d0iniyMwB

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 14, 2021

Residents of a townhouse complex in Melbourne’s CBD are being ordered to isolate for up to a fortnight after authorities established a link between two coronavirus cases who live there.

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley on Monday confirmed a case reported on Saturday lives in the same Southbank townhouse complex as a worker from Arcare Maidstone, who earlier contracted the virus via the aged care facility.

Authorities believe the aged care worker infected the man, aged in his 30s, in a common area of the low-rise complex, prior to testing positive.

“The epidemiology, the interviews with the two cases involved and the genomic sequencing seems to support that,” Mr Foley told reporters on Monday.

“What we’re trying to do is to run down the particular circumstances of that and make sure that if there are any chains of transmission out there, that we identify them early and cut them off.”

The aged care worker was transferred to hotel quarantine upon testing positive.

All registered owners of the more than 100 townhouses have been contacted, while a pop-up testing facility is being established on site.

Nurses will go door-to-door to ensure people are tested.

“Most residents will simply be required to test and isolate until negative … but a smaller number … will most likely have to isolate for 14 days,” Mr Foley said.

Melbourne emerged from a two-week lockdown on Friday, though it was replaced with strict restrictions, including a ban on home gatherings, a 25km travel limit and mandatory masks indoors and out, which will remain until at least June 18.

Regional Victorians are allowed two visitors at home, while density limits are in place at restaurants, pubs and cafes, gyms and other venues.

Source: sbs