Michaela Meade
A man from Hume in his 20s has died from COVID-19 as five Hume postcodes have been put on high alert after recording some of the state’s highest new COVID-19 cases.
COVID response deputy secretary Kate Matson announced today that the man aged in his 20s had died at home.
“We are aware he died of COVID due to postmortem analysis,” Ms Matson said.
“He wasn’t a case we were aware of.
“We’re getting information from the coroner ongoing throughout today to try and provide support for his family.”
Ms Matson said there was “very little” information about any other cases connected to the man, as investigations are ongoing.
Additionally, Ms Matson confirmed that 74 per cent of the new locally acquired cases from the past 24 hours reside in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Ms Matson said 175 cases were in Hume and 36 were in the city of Whittlesea.
Postcodes 3064, 3047, 3048, 3061, and 3059 – all within Hume – were highlighted as suburbs of concern.
Health department data shows that postcode 3064 – which includes Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn, Mickleham and Kalkallo – has 528 active cases of COVID-19.
The data shows that 3047 (Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana), 3048 (Coolaroo, Meadow Heights), 3061 (Campbellfield), and 3059 (Greenvale) have 224, 143, 125 and 105 active COVID-19 cases respectively.
Speaking about the areas of concern, Ms Matson said residents needed to be “extra vigilant”.
“[These suburbs] are where we’re seeing the vast majority of our cases,” Ms Matson said.
“If you… have any association with those suburbs, please come forward and get tested.”
