Victoria's parliament is closed for urgent cleaning after security guard tests positive to coronavirus - as politicians nervously wait to see if they need to be tested
- Parliamentary security guard tests positive on Thursday for coronavirus
- Victoria's politicians are on standby to see if they need to be tested for covid
- It's not known whether he was working when Parliament sat earlier this month
- Victoria's Parliament House and grounds are now closed for urgent cleaning
- State of Disaster, Emergency extended four more weeks as 41 new cases found
A security guard at Victoria's Parliament House has tested positive for coronavirus.
Victoria's Parliament House and grounds have been closed for cleaning and contact tracing has begun.
Politicians are waiting on advice from Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to see if they need individual testing, although some have already taken this precaution.
The security guard tested positive on Thursday to the virus.
Victoria's Parliament House pictured on Sunday. A security guard has tested positive to coronavirus, prompting the closure of Parliament for deep cleaning
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The Legislative Assembly room, pictured in August. The MLAs last sat on September 3 and 4, while the security guard tested positive on Thursday September 10.
It is not yet known whether he was infectious and working when parliament sat earlier this month.
The Legislative Assembly last sat on September 3 and 4, while the Legislative Council sat on September 1 and 2, according to the Parliament of Victoria website.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Colin Brooks and Legislative Council President Nazih Elasmar said in a joint statement on Sunday that the contracted security guard had stayed home on the day and started to feel unwell.
'Deep cleaning of the areas where the person worked in the building has been undertaken and is continuing. This is on top of the ongoing high-level cleaning already undertaken in Parliament House each weekday,' the statement said.
A woman is tested for coronavirus in Bonbeach, Melbourne on August 20. Victoria recorded 41 new cases on Sunday for a total of 19,835 of which 1157 are active. The States of Emergency and Disaster which underpin the new coronavirus rules have been extended by a month
Parliament House and grounds have been closed for cleaning until further notice, however it is likely they may be re-opened in time for the Legislative Council's next scheduled sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Parliamentary security guards are unable to work elsewhere under current contract arrangements.
Victoria recorded 41 new coronavirus cases on Sunday bringing the state's total to 19,835 with 723 deaths, the DHHS said in an emailed release.
There are 1,157 active cases of which 116 are in hospital and 11 in intensive care.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the number of 'mystery' cases, where the source of community transmission cannot be traced, has fallen by 11 since yesterday, however he has extended the State of Emergency and the State of Disaster for another four weeks, beginning tomorrow.
The Parliament of Victoria building and grounds (pictured on Sunday) are closed until further notice. The Legislative Council is scheduled to sit again on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is not known whether this will be affected
Victoria's State of Disaster came into operation on Sunday, August 2, alongside the Stage Four restrictions.
The State of Emergency was already in force at the time, and the two declarations have operated together.
The State of Emergency is what allows the Victorian government to make emergency coronavirus rules such as making face masks mandatory, introducing covid-safe work plans and requiring people to isolate in quarantine.
The State of Disaster gives the police special powers to enforce them.
Mr Andrews said the two declarations underpin the emergency coronavirus rules.
'It underpins taking those safe and steady steps,' he told reporters on Sunday.
The State of Emergency and State of Disaster are now scheduled to end just before midnight on October 11.
