Michaela Meade
Close to 200 hundred of today’s COVID-19 cases are in the northern suburbs, including Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows.
COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar described the 324 locally-acquired cases reported today as “a very challenging number”.
He said 195 of the cases were in Melbourne’s north.
“Over half of our active cases now are in the northern suburbs,” he said.
“We have… significant concerns around deep seated community transmission, particularly in the northern and western suburbs.”
Among the cases in the northern suburbs is a case at a Gladstone Park aged care facility.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the case was in addition to a staff member who had previously tested positive for the virus.
“The large majority of residents and staff have been tested,” Mr Foley said.
“Pleasingly, some 90 per cent of the residents at the facility are vaccinated, and even more pleasingly, 100 per cent of the staff were vaccinated.
“It’s important… to remind anyone in the aged care sector, that if you haven’t been vaccinated, you need to do so.”
Two testing stations in Hume have had their opening hours expanded in response to an increased demand for tests in the area.
Acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said the Sprint pavilion in Craigieburn and the Roxburgh Park Recreation Centre testing site opening hours would be extended to 8pm.
It comes as Australian Future Cabinets on Clay Court, Thomastown was identified as a tier one COVID-19 exposure site on Wednesday, September 1, 8am-4.30pm; Thursday, September 2, 8am – 10.30am; and Friday, September 3, 10am – 1.30pm.
Anyone who visited the site during those times must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Meanwhile, several tier two exposure sites have been identified.
They are:
– Mernda Cafe Convenience on Breadalbane Avenue, Wednesday, September 1, 3.30pm – 8pm and Tuesday, August 31, 3pm – 7.30pm;
– Australian Commercial Maintenance on Nathan Drive, Campbellfield, Wednesday, September 1, Thursday, September 2, and Friday, September 3, 8am – 2.15pm;
– Woolworths Greenvale Lakes on James Miriams Drive, Roxburgh Park, Thursday, September 2, 9am – 5.50pm; and
– O’Herns Road Apartment Building from August 28- September 7.
The health department said anyone who visited any of the sites during these times hould get tested urgently and isolate until they receive a negative result.
