Victoria coronavirus exposure sites: Bendigo on alert after Covid-19 exposure at venue
Bendigo #Bendigo
Victorian health authorities are urging people who spent time at popular bars in Melbourne’s Prahran and South Yarra on Saturday night to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days.
As Melbourne’s latest cluster ballooned to 15 cases, the state’s Health Minister Martin Foley said he was particularly concerned about the “large number” of exposure sites linked to some cases, with 48 exposure sites now listed on the Department of Health’s website.
One of the new cases visited three venues on Chapel St and Commercial Rd on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“If you were at the following venues at the following times, you are required to get tested and quarantine immediately for 14 days,” Mr Foley said.
“These times overlap, because the public health team have built in a buffer,” Mr Foley said.
“If you do not know where you were, then you should call the coronavirus hotline, just to get further reassurance.”
It comes as Victorian health officials issued a coronavirus warning for a shop in the regional city of Bendigo.
A person that later tested positive to coronavirus visited a hairdresser there at the weekend, prompting fears the Melbourne coronavirus cluster could have spread into the regions.
Anyone who was at the hair salon Bendigo Hairfolk on 33 Williamson Street on May 22, between 9.40am and 10.10am, should get tested and isolate until receiving a negative result.
Bendigo is located 160km northwest of Melbourne, a drive of about two hours.
The hairdresser is one of many venues where authorities have warned the virus could have spread.
There was also an alert for the nearby town of Axedale, where a person who later tested positive attended a lunchtime function at a local tavern.
Anybody who was at the Axedale Tavern on 105 High Street on Sunday between 11.45am and 1.30pm should get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
The Department of Health added dozens more exposure sites across Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Anyone who visited these TIER ONE locations need to get tested and either quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Anyone who visited these TIER TWO locations should get tested and isolate until they return a negative result
TIER 1 health advice: Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (Covid-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
TIER 2 health advice: Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Earlier in the week a number of shopping centres in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, a Woolworths and a Nandos were among the exposure sites.
The growing list of exposure sites has led to fears Melbourne could be plunged into a snap lockdown with new restrictions enforcing the wearing of masks indoors in all settings, a limit of five people allowed in homes, and no more than 30 for public gatherings.
Authorities expect the restrictions to be in place until at least June 4 but they will be reviewed throughout this period.
Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino would not rule out taking further measures, after Melbourne’s cluster grew to 15 cases on Wednesday.
“The next 24 hours are going to be critical,” he said.
“It’s good that everyone is linked at this stage, but we are concerned about the number and the kind of exposure sites.”
Victorians who live in Greater Melbourne would still be able to travel to regional parts of the state but should continue to follow the restrictions wherever they visit.
“For example, if you visit someone outside metropolitan Melbourne, they must have not more than five visitors at that house in that day,” he said.
“Victorians visiting regional Victoria from Melbourne will also need to wear a face mask when indoors, even when outside metropolitan Melbourne, unless an exemption applies.”
On Tuesday, chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton warned there were “chains of transmission” playing out from the list of known infections.
“That is why I flagged public transport is a risk if you are on a packed carriage you do not know who you stand next to and you may be next to an infectious person,” he said.
“I ask everyone to go back to those exposure sites on the website and, indeed, if they are going out for any gatherings, within limits from today and with 6pm restrictions in mind, go back to those exposure sites. If you have been to one of them, you should not go anywhere you should be tested.”