Melbourne to enter lockdown as Covid cluster grows to 26
Melbourne will be thrown into its fourth lockdown as new Covid cluster grows to 26 after infected reveller’s late-night bender – and the shutdown could last for at least seven days
- A Covid-positive case went out drinking at packed bars until 4am Saturday
- Victorian government held crisis talks on Wednesday about five-day shutdown
- There are also fears the virus may have jumped the border spread into NSW
- The cluster grew to 15 cases on Wednesday, before ballooning to 26 overnight
- There are 79 exposure sites across more than 30 Melbourne suburbs
Melbourne will enter a lockdown on Thursday after a Covid cluster grew to 26 cases overnight following an infected reveller’s late-night bender.
Health officials and senior government ministers held crisis meetings overnight, with more meetings held early on Thursday morning to decide the length of the lockdown – which will likely last seven days.
The number of cases linked to the Whittlesea cluster rose to 26, from 15 on Wednesday.
The state’s Health Department confirmed the new infections on Thursday ahead of a government press conference to discuss what happens next.
The number of test results received in the 24 hours to midnight was 40,411 and there were long queues again on Thursday at test sites across Melbourne.
The lockdown could apply to Greater Melbourne or be statewide.
As of Thursday morning, there were 79 exposure sites listed on the Health Department’s website, spread across more than 30 Melbourne suburbs and regional Bendigo, Cohuna and Red Hill.
Contact tracers are continuing to hunt a ‘missing link’ in the infection chain, with the virus genomically linked to a man who caught it in Adelaide hotel quarantine.
An announcement by Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino is expected to come at around 9am on Thursday, with Daniel Andrews still off work with a serious back injury.
A Covid-infected case last Saturday headed out for a mammoth late-night bender in Prahran, in Melbourne’s southeast, which ended up kicking on until 4am on Sunday – visiting three bars
Experts warned that if a single case appears that isn’t a household contact, as in someone infected at one of the bars or others venues, Victoria will ‘push the lockdown button’
One of the Chapel Street pubs the infected reveller visited was the trendy cocktail lounge Three Monkeys (pictured)
Contact tracers are continuing to hunt a ‘missing link’ in the infection chain, with the virus genomically linked to a man who caught it in Adelaide hotel quarantine
The infectious drinker partied at three different bars in Prahran, in the city’s southeast, on Saturday night – and ended up kicking on until 4am on Sunday in one of the venues known for packed crowds and a pumping dancefloor.
The pub-crawler, unknowingly infected with a highly contagious double mutant Indian strain of the virus, began the evening at a cocktail bar on Chapel Street called Three Monkeys.
They arrived at about 9.15pm and then wandered down the street to the famed Somewhere Bar – an establishment frequented by a sea of young, hip partygoers.
That Saturday the venue was packed as DJs blasted out tunes late into the night.
Three Monkeys also had a good turnout, raising fears the infected drinker may have sparked a super-spreader event.
‘It wasn’t crazy but it was solid,’ owner Antony Harvey told The Age of the crowd that night.
The infected case stayed at Somewhere Bar for a slue of drinks before heading back to Three Monkeys at about 1am.
The positive case then headed off towards Circus Bar – known for its raucous dance floor – on Commercial Road and kept the party going until 4am.
University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely warned that it was almost inevitable that a lockdown would be called.
‘If even one case occurs among somebody who is not a known contact already, I think they will hit the lockdown button,’ he said.
The infected case stayed at Somewhere Bar for a slue of drinks before until about 1am (pictured)
The infected pub-crawler kept the party going until about 4am at the Circus Bar (pictured)
Patient zero for the latest Australian outbreak, who came to be known as the Wollert man, returned to South Australia from India on April 19, where he underwent 14 days in hotel quarantine at the Playford Hotel in Adelaide.
The man in his 30s tested negative to the virus three times during his stay and was discharged on May 4 before he travelled to his home in Wollert, in Melbourne’s north.
But a few days later he developed symptoms and genomic testing would later reveal he contracted the virus from another hotel quarantine guest who was staying in an adjacent room.
SA Health handed down the findings of a report on Wednesday that suggested the virus likely spread when doors of adjacent rooms were momentarily opened at the same time.
His infection has since been gnomically linked to the new shock cluster gripping Melbourne.
Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino (pictured) says the next 24 hours will be critical to avoid another lockdown after the state recorded six more locally acquired Covid-19 cases
Healthcare workers are seen at work at a Covid-19 testing facility in Melbourne on Wednesday
But a definitive link between the Wollert man and the outbreak hasn’t been established as contact tracers scramble to find a potential ‘missing link’.
‘The only missing link is the link to the Wollert case from the South Australian hotel quarantine,’ Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.
While authorities have ‘run down multiple generations of transmission’, Professor Sutton is concerned about the amount of time that positive cases have been out in the community.
‘There are potential exposures there that relate to some days ago that are yet to play out in new cases,’ he said.
The Victorian government already introduced a number of restrictions to try and stop the spread including mask mandates indoors and limits on gatherings.
Other states around Australia have also taken steps to stop the virus from spreading, re-introducing tough border restrictions that require incoming travellers to self-isolate and Melburnians banned from South Australia all together.
It’s understood officials are considering a five day circuit breaker, which could be extended if significant numbers of cases not directly linked to the current cluster emerge, The Herald Sun reported.
Contact tracers are continuing to hunt a ‘missing link’ in the infection chain, as policymakers and public health authorities held crisis talks on Wednesday night about whether a shut will be declared. Pictured: Masked pedestrians in Melbourne
Pictured: The Cohuna recreation reserve in Victoria where a sporting event was held between a Victorian and NSW team – and attended by a positive Covid-19 case
The fears Melbourne’s Covid-19 outbreak could already have spread interstate come after health authorities confirmed a virus carrier attended sporting fixtures involving a New South Wales team.
NSW Health said it is urgently contacting people who attended a Central Murray Football and Netball League game between the Victorian club Cohuna and the New South Wales-based team Tooleybuc-Manangatang on Saturday afternoon.
Anyone who attended the footy and netball games, which were held in Victoria but with many fans who travelled from NSW, should immediately get tested and self-isolate.
Victorian health authorities said the positive Covid-19 case attended the Cohuna Recreation Reserve and watching multiple netball games alongside other spectators.
The infected person also visited the canteen and used the public toilets at the venue.
Health authorities are urging anyone who was at the event between 12pm and 5pm to get tested urgently and isolate until they receive a negative result.
The South Australian hotel quarantine breach which has sparked a worrying Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne is likely to have begun when the virus went from one open door to another (pictured, Melbourne health workers at a testing centre on Wednesday)
It’s understood Victorian officials are considering a five day circuit breaker, which could be extended if significant numbers of cases not directly linked to the current cluster emerge (pictured, Melbourne commuters)
Full list of Covid exposure sites
The advice for Tier 1 sites is to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Tuesday, May 25
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, all day on May 24
Monday, May 24
NEW: Dukes Gym Abbotsford in Abbotsford between 6:15pm and 8:15pm on May 24
NEW: Anytime Fitness, Shop TG-01, Uni Hill Town Centre, 1-3 Janefield Drive, Bundoora between 4:50 and 5:50pm on May 24
NEW: Ritchies IGA, Pentridge, 1 Champ Street Coburg between 6:45pm and 7:25pm
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, all day on May 24
NEW: Port Park Cafe at 7/484 Graham Street, Port Melbourne between 12:30pm and 1:00pm on May 24
Bay 101 Cafe at 7/101 Bay Street, Port Melbourne between 7:30am and 8:20am on May 24,
Sunday, May 23
NEW: Anytime FitnessShop, Uni Hill Town Centre at 1-3 Janefield Drive in Bundoora between 3:40pm and 5:30pm
NEW: Axedale Tavern at 105 High Street in Axedale between 11:45am and 1:30pm on May 23
NEW: Endless Lifestyle Studio in Balwyn between 9:45am and 12:40pm on May 23
NEW: 7-Eleven Fairfield East, 324 Station Street, Fairfield between 7:45pm and 8:00pm on May 23
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, all day on May 23
NEW: Three Monkeys Bar at 210 Chapel Street, Prahran, between 12:30am and 2:00am Sunday, May 23
NEW: Criniti’s Southbank, 645 Freshwater Place, Southbank between 6:00pm and 9:30pm
NEW: Circus Bar at 199 Commercial Road, South Yarra, between 1:30am and 4:15am on Sunday, May 23
Saturday, May 22
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road Port Melbourne, all day on May 22
NEW: Somewhere Bar at 181 Chapel Street, Prahran, between 10:30pm and 1:00am on Saturday, May 22
NEW: Three Monkeys Bar at 210 Chapel Street, Prahran, between 9:10pm and 11:00pm on Saturday, May 22
NEW: Secco and Co at 414 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North between 7:35pm and 8:55pm on May 22
McDonald’s Clifton Hill between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on May 22
Woolworths Epping North between 4:45pm and 5:45pm on May 22
NEW: The Nicholson Coffee House in Nicholson Street in Coburg between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on May 22
NEW: Hairfolk on Williamson Street in Bendigo between 9.40am and 10.10am on May 22
NEW: BP Southvale on Bell Street in Coburg between 8.10am and 8.30am on May 22
NEW: Little Tienda at 410 Station Street, Thornbury between 7:45am and 8:20am on May 22
Friday, May 21
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road Port Melbourne, all day on May 21
NEW: The Local on Bay Street in Port Melbourne between 1:30pm and 3:30pm on May 21
NEW: The Palace Hotel, 505-507 City Road, South Melbourne between 5:45 and 6:45pm
Bamboo House restaurant on Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD between 11:00am and 11:50am on May 21
Jump Swim School in Bundoora between 8:55am and 10:15am on May 21
Thursday, May 20
NEW: Stratton Finance HQ, 1/435 Williamstown Road Port Melbourne, all day on May 20
NEW: Coles at Pacific Epping Shopping Centre between 6:46pm and 7:35pm on May 20
NEW: Woolworths at Pacific Epping Shopping Centre between 6:25pm and 7:15pm on May 20
Highpoint Shopping Centre between 5:00pm and 8:00pm on May 20
Lush Cosmetics at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribrynong between 6:05pm and 6:35pm on May 20
Smiggle at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribrynong between 5:55pm and 6:30pm on May 20
Ishka at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribrynong between 5:45pm and 6:20pm on May 20
Toyworld at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribrynong between 5:30pm and 6:20pm on May 20
Kidstuff at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribrynong between 5:20pm and 5:55pm on May 20
Wednesday, May 19
Nando’s at Dalton Road in Epping between 8:30pm and 9:20pm on May 19
Tuesday, May 18
NEW: Doctors on Broadway, 210A Broadway, Reservoir between 2:00pm and 3:45pm on May 18
The Furniture Trader in Epping between 12:00pm and 12:50pm on May 18
Monday, May 17
JMD Grocers & Sweets in Epping between 10:30am and 1:00pm on May 17
TIER
Tier 2 COVID exposure sites: The advice for Tier 2 sites the advice is to get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result.
Monday, May 24
NEW: Ritchies IGA Pentridge at 1 Champ Street in Coburg between 6:45pm and 7:25pm
Sunday, May 23
ALDI at Dalton Village in Epping, between 6:00pm and 7:30pm on May 23
ALDI Preston South on Dundas Street, Preston, between 3:45pm and 4:25pm on May 23
NEW: Docklands Stadium, Docklands, Level 1 between aisles five and 28; Level 3 between aisles six and 29 during the Essendon/North Melbourne AFL game
NEW: MCG, Zone 4, Level 1 between 2:50pm and 6:30pm on May 23
NEW: 7-Eleven at 324 Station Street in Fairfield between 7:45pm and 8:00pm
Adams Reserve Playground at Preston, between 2:15pm and 3:45pm on May 23
Urban Diner Food Court, Pacific Epping Shopping Centre, at 571-583 High Street in Epping between 1:15pm and 2:30pm on May 23
Chemist Depot Epping at Pacific Epping Shopping Centre between 11:15am and 12:00pm on May 23
Futsal Brunswick at 409 Victoria Street in Brunswick between 9:00am and 10:00am on May 23
Saturday, May 22
NEW: Barkly Square, Brunswick; Priceline, Kmart, Woolworths between 1:15pm and 2:30pm on May 22
NEW: Cohuna Football and Netball Club, Cohuna Recreation Reserve, Island Road, Cohuna between 12:00pm and 5:00pm on May 22
P & C Indian Grocery & Convenience Store at Broadway Reservoir between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on May 22
House and Party Store on Lyndarum Drive in Epping between 5:15pm and 5:50pm on May 22
Epping North Shopping Centre on Lyndarum Drive in Epping between 4:45pm and 5:50pm on May 22
Friday, May 21
BT Connor Reserve at 200 Broadhurst Avenue in Reservoir between 8:00pm and 11:30pm on May 21
NEW: RMIT Campus, Building 56 in Carlton between 8:00am and 10:30am on May 21
Thursday, May 20
Deep Indian Supermarket at 3/494 High Street, Lalor between 7pm and 8pm on May 20
Highpoint Shopping Centre, all other areas on Levels 2 and 3 excluding specific shops listed as Tier 1 sites, between 5:15pm and 6:35pm
Bunnings Warehouse at 761 Plenty Road, Mill Park between 4pm and 6:30pm on May 20
White Line Automotive at 2/28 Lipton Drive, Thomastown between 12:00pm and 1:30pm on May 20
Wednesday, May 19
NEW: Chemist Warehouse at Dalton Village in Epping between 6:45pm and 8:00pm on May 19
Fruits of Lalor at 328 Station Street, Lalor between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on May 19
No.1 Fruit Market at 37 May Road, Lalor between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on May 19
Everfresh Fruit Market at 346 Station Street, Lalor between 12:00pm and 1:00pm on May 19
Tuesday, May 18
Shell Coles Express Reservoir at 192-202 Broadway and Whitelaw Streets in Reservoir between 3:15pm and 4:15pm on May 18
Monday, May 17
ACTROL at 13-17 Brand Drive, Thomastown between 12:00pm and 1:30pm on May 17
Tier 3 COVID exposure sites: The advice for Tier 3 sites is to monitor for symptoms and if symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative test.
Sunday, May 23
NEW: MCG, all of stadium other than zone 4 between 2:50pm and 6:30pm on May 23
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