Michaela Meade
Thirteen of the 55 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 identified today have been connected to Broadmeadows.
COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar announced that the 13 cases are connected to the MyCentre Multicultural Youth Centre in Broadmeadows.
Mr Weimar said there is a potential overlap between the MyCentre cases and the Glenroy West Primary School community.
“In doing the testing and the contact tracing over the last 24 hours, the earliest… onset of symptoms goes all the way back to August 11,” Mr Weimar said.
“That highlights, again, if you’re symptomatic, come forward for testing.
“Don’t wait a couple of days to see whether those symptoms go away.
“There’s not much seasonal flu around, there’s not much seasonal cold, we need you to get tested if you’ve got symptoms.
“I’m glad we found it, but we now have 13 cases in one hit, in one centre… right in the middle of our young people.”
The Kraft Court youth centre has since been identified as a tier one exposure site.
The health department said anyone who visited the site during any of the below listed dates and times is required to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
– Tuesday, August 17 between 7am and 9.30am;
– Friday, August 13 between 7am and 2.50pm; and
– Thursday, August 12 between 7am and 4.15pm.
Tullamarine Animal Hospital on Carrick Drive has also been identified as a tier one exposure site.
The health department said anyone who visited the site on Monday, August 16 between 2.35pm and 3.40pm is required to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Woolworths Gladstone Park has been identified as a tier two exposure site.
The health department said anyone who visited the site yesterday, August 19 between 9.25am and 9.55am should get tested urgently and isolate until they receive a negative result.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews warned Melburnians to comply with the restrictions.
“We are right on the edge of this getting away from us,” he said.
“Not because contact tracers aren’t doing everything they can – they are.
“Not because we didn’t lockdown fast enough – we did.
“This variant is so infectious it will find every breach, of every rule.
“If we have a weekend this weekend like last weekend, next week, it will be like Sydney.
“It’s as simple as that.”
To find out where to get tested: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19
Information on exposure sites: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
