By Laura Michell
The coronavirus outbreak at Epping Gardens Aged Care has been linked to 90 cases, as Austin Health staff take control of the centre and residents are transferred to hospitals.
The aged care centre has recorded four new cases since yesterday.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews this morning announced that Austin Health was running the centre.
Mr Andrews said that two residents were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in an emergency transfer last night. He said the residents were in the process of being transferred to St Vincent’s Private.
“It’s a very challenging environment,” Mr Andrews said of Epping Gardens.
Five new cases have been linked to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn since Tuesday, taking the total number of cases to 42.
Five residents have died after testing positive for the virus.
Mr Andrews said Victoria was facing a “big, big challenge” in aged care at the moment.
An outbreak at Bertocchi Smallgoods’ Thomastown factory has also grown, with the total number of cases linked to the site now at 121.
More cases have also been detected at Nino Early Learning Adventures child care centre in Bundoora, taking the total number of cases to 20.
Overall, 48 new cases were detected in Whittlesea since yesterday.
There are now 576 cases of COVID-19 in the municipality, of which 392 are active.
Fifty-five new infections were confirmed in Hume in the past 24 hours, taking the municipality’s total to 896 cases.
There are 428 active cases in Hume.
The sharp rise in cases in Whittlesea and Hume comes as Victoria’s recorded its highest ever daily case increase, with Mr Andrews confirming there were 723 new cases since yesterday.
“These cases today are a reflection of increases in aged care,” he said.
“Too many people are still going to work when they have symptoms…for so long as that continues, we will continue to see numbers go up.”
