By Laura Michell
Parts of the northern and western suburbs have been labelled as hot spots for “low level” community transmission of COVID-19 by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.
Professor Brett Sutton said recent cases suggested the area from Keilor Downs to Fawkner and Craigieburn was a current hot spot for community transmission, adding that most of Victoria’s recent virus cases were recorded in the northern and western suburbs.
“This indicates there is on-going community transmission in these areas, and although it appears to be at low levels,” he said.
Professor Sutton said people living in the area should stay home if they are unwell and get tested if they develop coronavirus symptoms.
Eight pop-up drive through testing sites are currently operating across Melbourne, including at Keilor Community Hub, and Highpoint, Pacific Werribee and Pacific Epping shopping centres.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, there were four active cases of COVID-19 in Hume as of Friday. The municipality has recorded 70 cases since the pandemic began. Neighbouring Whittlesea has recorded no active cases since June 7.
In Brimbank, six cases remained active. There have been a total of 73 cases in the municipality. There were no active cases in Melton and Maribyrnong as of Friday, while one case remained active in Hobsons Bay.
The warning follows the news that six school students from the northern and western suburbs tested positive to the virus.
Keilor Downs Secondary College was closed for deep cleaning on May 29 after a student returned a positive test.
A student from St Albans Secondary College also tested positive for the virus after taking part in a class with the infected Keilor Downs student. A grade two pupil at Holy Eucharist Primary School in St Albans South also tested positive.
Craigieburn’s Newbury Primary School was closed for cleaning on June 5 after a prep pupil tested positive.
St Dominici’s Catholic Primary School in Broadmeadows was closed on June 15 after two pupils tested positive. The cases are part of a larger COVID-19 cluster that is spread across four households in Broadmeadows, Coburg and Pakenham.
Across Victoria, there are 1732 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including two cases in a protester who attended the June 6 Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne.
DHHS urged anyone who attended the protest to remain vigilant and to isolate at home and get tested as a “matter of urgency” if symptoms develop.
