A full public health response is underway after an individual in Victoria tested positive to COVID-19.
The individual, a male in his 30s, recently returned to Australia from overseas and undertook Hotel Quarantine in South Australia.
He arrived in Victoria and returned to his home in Wollert on 4 May and developed symptoms on 8 May. He got tested yesterday, 10 May, and returned a positive result this morning, according to a media release from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Further testing has been urgently arranged to confirm the diagnosis. Until that time, the Department is treating this as a positive case and acting accordingly.
The individual who was tested positive is isolating at home. His household primary close contacts are also isolating, being interviewed, and will be urgently tested.
The Department is working with interstate counterparts to determine the likely source of this infection.
The exposure sites verified are listed below.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said “this is a first iteration of exposure sites,” and added health authorities were working on the assumption the man picked up the virus in hotel quarantine.
Exposure sites
According to the DHHS website, there are four exposure sites, which means anyone who has been to the following sites at the specified times must get tested and isolate for 14 days:
Altona North, TIC Group (front office) at 232 Blackshaws Road, all day on Thursday, May 6.
Health advice: Tier 1, get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
India Gates Spices and Groceries, at 560-590 High Street, Epping, between 5pm and 6pm on Thursday, May 6.
Health advice: Tier 1, get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Altona North, TIC Group (warehouse section) at 232 Blackshaws Road, all day on Thursday, May 11.
Health advice: Tier 2, get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result.
Melbourne CBD Curry Vault Indian Restaurant, 18-20 Bank Place, between 6.30pm-9.30pm on Friday, May 7.
Health advice: Tier 1, get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Epping Woolworths, corner of Cooper and High streets, between 5.40pm and 6.30pm on Saturday, May 8.
Health advice: Tier 1, get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Epping 7-Eleven, 705 High St & Cooper Street Epping VIC 3076, between 6:30pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, May 6 and between 11:10am – 11:40am on Saturday, May 8.
Health advice: Tier 2, get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result.
(For updates on exposure sites, go to https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites)
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