Ten new coronavirus cases as authorities warn of spike to come
Ten fresh cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Victoria, including four linked with the Rydges hotel cluster in Melbourne’s CBD.
Authorities are warning there may be a spike in cases next week following the relaxation in social distancing measures that began on Monday.
Another of the 10 cases is a staff member at an aged care facility in Reservoir in Melbourne’s north, which is now in lockdown.
A teacher from Macleod Preschool north-east of Melbourne has also tested positive and the kindergarten was closed on Tuesday for deep cleaning.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Annaliese van Diemen said at least 12 children and at least eight staff were considered close contacts.
Returned international travellers in mandatory quarantine at the Rydges hotel on Swanston Street have been relocated due to the growing cluster.
Dr van Diemen said guests would see out their quarantine at another hotel because so many hotel staff members at Rydges had been placed in self-isolation.
She also confirmed that Health Department staff were in self-isolation too.
"At this point we haven’t determined the precise cause of the outbreak. We know that it is linked to other cases in returned travellers but we are still undertaking investigations as to how this particular cohort of staff were exposed," Dr van Diemen said on Tuesday morning.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said Embracia Aged Care in Reservoir in Melbourne’s north had been locked down after the positive test result.
A member of the COVID-19 Cleansing Team wipes a window at a tram stop across the road from the Rydges on Swanston hotel in Melbourne.Credit:AAP Image/Scott Barbour
"That worker is self-isolating at home and all staff and visitors are considered to be close contacts and will be put into quarantine," Ms Mikakos said.
All staff and residents will be tested for coronavirus on Tuesday.
The remaining four new cases are under investigation.
Dr van Diemen said based on the incubation period of the coronavirus, there may be a spike in cases leading from relaxed social distancing measures, as soon as next week.
"From mid next week we might expect to see if there was going to be an increase," she said. "We sincerely hope that is not the case and we really encourage people to get tested as soon as they get symptoms."
Dr van Diemen said the incubation period for the virus was between two and 14 days but most of the cases in Victoria were of people who fell ill between six and 10 days after being infected.
"But we have seen them at either ends of that," she said.
Physical distancing, handwashing and very good cough and sneeze hygiene etiquette were crucial to stopping the spread now more people were out in the community, Dr van Diemen said.
Relaxed measures allowing more businesses to open and overnight stays in Victoria came into effect on Monday.
Keilor Downs Secondary College, the school most affected by a cluster of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne’s west, reopened on Tuesday.
Holy Eucharist Primary School in St Albans South, where one student tested positive last Friday, was hoping to reopen on Wednesday, Dr van Diemen said.
There are 79 active cases in Victoria, Ms Mikakos said. Nine people are in hospital including two in intensive care. There have been no new deaths – the number of deaths in Victoria stands at 19.