Returned travellers in Victoria must go undergo coronavirus testing or face an extra 10 days in hotel quarantine, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced, as the state's COVID-19 cases continue to climb.
Key points:
- People in hotel quarantine will have the option of a saliva test rather than a nasal test from today
- Premier Daniel Andrews said the Government was not imposing restrictions on movement in specific suburbs yet but warned it was still an option
- Four new cases are linked to the Brimbank, Keilor Downs, and North Melbourne family outbreaks, and one is linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak
Another 49 cases of coronavirus were recorded overnight, taking the state's toll above 2,000.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there had been a net increase of 49 cases overnight but eight of those were reclassified to Victoria from other states.
Four new cases are connected to known outbreaks, 26 are from routine testing and another 19 cases are under investigation.
The figures came as Mr Andrews announced compulsory testing for returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
Testing will be mandatory on day 11 of quarantine from today.
Mr Andrews said many parents had refused testing of their children because the nasal swab test was uncomfortable.
He added that from today, there would be the option for people to be tested via a saliva test rather than the back of the throat, which was "much less painful", Mr Andrews said.
Those who refuse will have to stay in hotel quarantine for an extra 10 days, in line with rules imposed in NSW.
Before today, people have been tested with a swab taken from the back of throat through the nose.
The saliva test is available to anyone who prefers it, with the nasal test remaining an option.
Mr Andrews said other states had begun processing tests for Victoria so the state could address its backlog.
He said a full update into the suburban blitz which has involved about 40,000 tests so far will be provided over the next two days.
Hotspot suburbs not in lockdown yet
Mr Andrews said the Government was not imposing restrictions on movement in specific suburbs yet but warned it could happen.
"We're not going to change settings in the hotspot suburbs until we've completed and concluded the blitz," he said.
"Test and trace is the most effective thing we can do.
"If we have to implement a stay-at-home order, if that is deemed the appropriate public health response, that is what we will do. I'm not announcing that today."
Mr Andrews reminded people the virus was "wildly infectious" and said people in hotspots should get tested if they wanted to avoid "restrictions being reimposed".
He also said a spike in positive tests from routine testing had been expected.
"When you test in this targeted way you are going to pick [it] up more," he said.
'Risk review' to be undertaken for Coles outbreak
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said of the four new cases linked to existing outbreaks, one was linked to a North Melbourne family, bringing the total for that outbreak to 21.
Another case was linked to the Brimbank family outbreak, taking the total to six, and one was linked to the Stamford Plaza hotel outbreak.
Professor Sutton said the hotel was being used for returned travellers but wanted to assure the public the outbreak had stemmed from "staff members and their close contacts at home".
Another staff member from a Coles distribution centre has also been diagnosed with coronavirus.
The outbreak at Coles was linked to the Keilor Downs family outbreak.
Professor Sutton said the staff member brought "the Coles portion of that outbreak to four".
He said hundreds of staff from the distribution centre had been tested but "a risk review" would be undertaken to "make sure there aren't additional cases coming out of that outbreak".
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTI4L3ZpY3RvcmlhLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNhc2VzLXJpc2UtYnktNDkvMTI0MDA2OTbSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI0MDA2OTY?oc=5
2020-06-28 02:51:09Z
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