Two “likely” positive cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the Department of Health has revealed.A full public health investigation is underway into the results.The two cases are understood to be connected to each another. The exact suburbs or local government area of where the cases are from are yet to be announced.The Department of Health on Monday morning revealed that initial public health actions were being put in place while both people isolate and are urgently retested.“We will communicate any specific public health actions the community needs to undertake as soon as possible when investigations and case interviews are complete,” a Department statement reads.For rolling coverage watch Sky News Australia on Foxtel or visit www.skynews.com.au.
“Until then, remember to observe key COVID-safe behaviours: get tested if you have any symptoms at all, check in at venues, and always wear masks on public transport, including rideshare vehicles.”There are currently 10 active cases of the virus in Victoria. It has been 86 days since most recent case of community transmission was recorded in Victoria.It’s not yet known if the two cases are linked to the Wollert man or Epping Woolworths contact tracing bungle.It comes after the Department of Health issued an urgent alert for people in the northern suburbs to isolate on Friday night after traces of the virus were detected in wastewater around the Epping and Wollert area.“While the detections may be due to someone who has had COVID-19 that is no longer infectious continuing to ‘shed’ the virus, it is also possible that it is due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case,” Prof Sutton said at the time.“When we get a detection like this, we go back and reinvestigate,” he said.Investigations revealed the COVID-positive man from Wollert, who is now isolating in a health hotel, shopped at the Woolworths Epping North supermarket, on the corner of Epping Rd and Lyndarum Drive between 5.40pm and 6.38pm on Saturday, May 8.“The original exposure site was Woolworths Epping, corner of Cooper and High Streets, Epping, on 8 May – a location which is adjacent to other exposure sites. This was an error,” Prof Sutton said.“What this means is, out of an abundance of caution, anyone who has been to the following exposure site has to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result: Woolworths Epping North, Corner Epping Rd and Lyndarum Drive (2 Lyndarum Drive), Epping (North) on 8 May between 5.40pm-6.38pm.”The Herald Sun understands health authorities will hold a press conference later on Monday. Two infections were also recorded in hotel quarantine from overseas arrivals on Monday.STERN WARNING AS MASK BLITZ BEGINSPolice have issued a stern warning to those who refuse to comply with its new coronavirus directions as the force kicks off its two-week mask crackdown.“We will offer to give people a mask and if they are blatantly refusing to wear one, they will end up with a ticket,” Superintendent Andrew Humberstone said.“Nine times out of 10, (people) will comply, but obviously we will get some people who are anti-vaxxers or just don’t want to comply with the chief health officer’s direction.”“We can’t please all the people all the time but most of the travelling public feel safe if they see people getting onto the trains and buses wearing a mask.”Supt Humberstone said he was hopeful travellers would fully comply with the measures by mid next week.“(I’m) hoping for 100 per cent compliance by Wednesday but I’m a realist so we will see what happens as the days go on,” he said.He could not offer specific numbers on how many officers would be enforcing the measures but said 300 personnel are allocated to “keeping people safe on the transport system”.“We have a presence here seven days a week, so it’s just refocusing some of our resources to those peak periods,” he said.He did not rule out extending the measures if commuters refuse to abide by the police’s directions.“We will monitor the compliance rates and review it in two weeks’ time,” he said.Supt Humberstone defended the tough crackdown, arguing the public should be aware of the coronavirus directions by now.“We have been living with masks, restrictions have been enforced for a number of months,” he said.“It is just about putting a mask on and we will remind people in the first instance.”Masks will initially be offered to commuters who don’t have one as part of the crackdown.Those who refuse to comply with the COVID-19 directions will be slapped with a $200 fine.The blitz follows Department of Transport research, which found mask compliance had dropped across the state.The majority of commuters appeared to have heeded the police’s warning at Southern Cross station morning, but some maskless travellers remained undeterred, despite the threat of heavy fines.“If I have to wear it, I’ll wear it, but I’m not worried about getting fined,” one commuter said.Another said he was unaware masks were still compulsory on public transport across Victoria.“I didn’t even know you needed a mask to be honest with you, I thought (the restrictions) had ended,” he said.“Now I’ll definitely be a bit more cautious, I’m on an apprentice wage, so I can’t really afford that.”
“Until then, remember to observe key COVID-safe behaviours: get tested if you have any symptoms at all, check in at venues, and always wear masks on public transport, including rideshare vehicles.”There are currently 10 active cases of the virus in Victoria. It has been 86 days since most recent case of community transmission was recorded in Victoria.It’s not yet known if the two cases are linked to the Wollert man or Epping Woolworths contact tracing bungle.It comes after the Department of Health issued an urgent alert for people in the northern suburbs to isolate on Friday night after traces of the virus were detected in wastewater around the Epping and Wollert area.“While the detections may be due to someone who has had COVID-19 that is no longer infectious continuing to ‘shed’ the virus, it is also possible that it is due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case,” Prof Sutton said at the time.“When we get a detection like this, we go back and reinvestigate,” he said.Investigations revealed the COVID-positive man from Wollert, who is now isolating in a health hotel, shopped at the Woolworths Epping North supermarket, on the corner of Epping Rd and Lyndarum Drive between 5.40pm and 6.38pm on Saturday, May 8.“The original exposure site was Woolworths Epping, corner of Cooper and High Streets, Epping, on 8 May – a location which is adjacent to other exposure sites. This was an error,” Prof Sutton said.“What this means is, out of an abundance of caution, anyone who has been to the following exposure site has to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result: Woolworths Epping North, Corner Epping Rd and Lyndarum Drive (2 Lyndarum Drive), Epping (North) on 8 May between 5.40pm-6.38pm.”The Herald Sun understands health authorities will hold a press conference later on Monday. Two infections were also recorded in hotel quarantine from overseas arrivals on Monday.STERN WARNING AS MASK BLITZ BEGINSPolice have issued a stern warning to those who refuse to comply with its new coronavirus directions as the force kicks off its two-week mask crackdown.“We will offer to give people a mask and if they are blatantly refusing to wear one, they will end up with a ticket,” Superintendent Andrew Humberstone said.“Nine times out of 10, (people) will comply, but obviously we will get some people who are anti-vaxxers or just don’t want to comply with the chief health officer’s direction.”“We can’t please all the people all the time but most of the travelling public feel safe if they see people getting onto the trains and buses wearing a mask.”Supt Humberstone said he was hopeful travellers would fully comply with the measures by mid next week.“(I’m) hoping for 100 per cent compliance by Wednesday but I’m a realist so we will see what happens as the days go on,” he said.He could not offer specific numbers on how many officers would be enforcing the measures but said 300 personnel are allocated to “keeping people safe on the transport system”.“We have a presence here seven days a week, so it’s just refocusing some of our resources to those peak periods,” he said.He did not rule out extending the measures if commuters refuse to abide by the police’s directions.“We will monitor the compliance rates and review it in two weeks’ time,” he said.Supt Humberstone defended the tough crackdown, arguing the public should be aware of the coronavirus directions by now.“We have been living with masks, restrictions have been enforced for a number of months,” he said.“It is just about putting a mask on and we will remind people in the first instance.”Masks will initially be offered to commuters who don’t have one as part of the crackdown.Those who refuse to comply with the COVID-19 directions will be slapped with a $200 fine.The blitz follows Department of Transport research, which found mask compliance had dropped across the state.The majority of commuters appeared to have heeded the police’s warning at Southern Cross station morning, but some maskless travellers remained undeterred, despite the threat of heavy fines.“If I have to wear it, I’ll wear it, but I’m not worried about getting fined,” one commuter said.Another said he was unaware masks were still compulsory on public transport across Victoria.“I didn’t even know you needed a mask to be honest with you, I thought (the restrictions) had ended,” he said.“Now I’ll definitely be a bit more cautious, I’m on an apprentice wage, so I can’t really afford that.”
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