By Laura Michell
A COVID-19 outbreak linked to the City of Whittlesea has grown to 15 cases.
Acting Premier James Merlino said there were five new cases overnight and one this morning.
There are now 23 active cases of COVID-19 across Victoria.
Mr Merlino said that all of the cases are linked, however the state government is concerned by the number of people who have tested positive.
“Ultimately, these new cases underscore the importance of people coming forward for testing,” he said.
“We’re working our way along that chain up very rapidly.”
Mr Merlino said the government was also concerned by “the kinds of exposure sites” being identified.
“I cannot rule out taking some further action,” he said.
“It is fair to say that the next 24 hours will be critical if we are going to take any further changes.”
Health Minister Martin Foley said there are now 301 identified primary close contacts of positive cases.
He said 80 of those people had returned a negative test.
“We would ask everyone to check the exposure sites on the website and follow the advice.”
Mr Foley said there are more than 40 testing sites operating across metropolitan Melbourne with extended operating hours.
“I would like to thank people for turning out in such strong numbers.”
It comes as a number of new exposure sites were identified last night and this morning, including the MCG.
In a statement late last night, the health department said a positive case attended the Collingwood/Port Adelaide game, sitting in zone four, level one of the Great Southern Stand (the Put Road end of the stand).
People seated in zone four, level one who were seated between bays M1 and M16 will be contacted directly with advice to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result, the department said.
“Further reviews of CCTV footage will be undertaken to determine if advice to get and isolate will be broadened beyond these areas,” the department said.
“Some individuals with the closest contact to the positive case will be directly provided more specific advice from the Department of Health. Others attending the MCG not located in these areas will be advised to check for symptoms and be tested if any develop.”
The new tier one exposure sites are: Woolworths at Pacific Epping on May 20 between 6.25-7.15pm; Coles Pacific Epping on May 20 between 6.45-7.35pm; The Nicholson Coffee House in Coburg on May 22 between noon-1pm; Secco and Co, Fitzroy North on May 22 between 7.35-8.35pm; Port Park Cafe, Port Melbourne on May 21 between 1.40-3.30pm; Bay 101 Cafe in Port Melbourne on May 24 between7.30-8.20am; Little Tienda, Thornbury, on May 22 between 7.45-8.20am; The Local, Port Melbourne, on May 21 between 1.40-330pm; Axedale Tavern, Axedale on May 23 between 11.45am-1.30 pm; Three Monkeys, Chapel Street on May 22, 9.10-11pm and May 23 12.30-2am; Somewhere Bar, Chapel Street, on May 22, 10.30pm until 1am on May 23; and Circus Bar, South Yarra, On May 23, between 11.30am-4.15am.
Anyone who visited a tier one site during these times must get tested and quarantine for 14 days.
New tier two exposure sites are: Deep Indian Supermarket, Lalor, on May 20 between 7-8pm; Fruits of Lalor, Station Street, Lalor, on May 19 between noon-1pm; No. 1 Fruit Market, May Road, Lalor, on May 19, noon-1pm; Everfresh Fruit Market, Lalor, on May 19 between noon-1pm; Mill Park Bunnings on May 20 between 4-6.30pm; P & C Indian Grocery & Convenience Store, Reservoir, on May 22 between 6-7pm; ACTROL, Brand Drive, Thomastown, on May 17 between noon-1.30pm; White Line Automotive, Thomastown, on May 20 between noon-1.30pm; Chemist Warehouse, Dalton Village, Epping on May 19 between 6.45-8pm; BP Southvale, Bell Street, Coburg, on May 22 between 8.10-8.30am; and Hairfolk, Bendigo, on May 22 between 9.40-10.10am.
Anyone who visited a tier two exposure site during these times must get tested and isolate until they return a negative result.
