Victoria records 11 new local COVID-19 cases as state opens drive-through vaccination hub

Victoria has recorded 11 new local COVID-19 cases, on the third successive day of double-digit new daily infections.

Only one of the new cases was in quarantine for their entire infectious period. All new infections have been linked to known cases.

Almost 40,000 test results were received over the 24 hours to midnight.

The list of exposure sites has now expanded to 172 locations, including the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in St Albans, which was listed on Sunday night after an infected person visited on Friday.

The Maternity Assessment Centre on level three and Dorevitch Pathology on the ground floor have been listed as tier-one exposure sites, with anyone who visited the facilities between 8.15am and 2.45pm and 9.05am and 9.50am respectively required to get tested immediately and then isolate for 14 days.

The cafe in the main corridor has been listed as a tier-two exposure site between 9:20am and 9:50am, with anyone who visited required to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result

All other visitors to the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital between 8.15-2.45pm must monitor for symptoms.

Australia’s first drive-through vaccine clinic opens
It comes as Australia’s-first drive-through clinic is opening at a former Bunnings warehouse in Melton, Melbourne, on Monday.

The facility is initially expected to administer 10,000 vaccine doses a week, with hopes it will be the first in a series of drive-through hubs.

Victorians under 40 will also have the opportunity to receive the AstraZeneca jab at nine of the state’s mass vaccination centres from Monday, while children aged 12-15 with underlying health conditions or of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent will be allowed to receive Pfizer doses.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Sunday encouraged the take-up of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“If I were 25 and AstraZeneca was the only vaccine available to me today, I would get it,” he said on Sunday.

Source: sbs.com.au