Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews issued the ominous warning as he officially announced one of the state’s hotel quarantine facilities would close immediately after three local cases were linked to the site.“This is a wicked enemy, made more challenging by the fact that it is changing, it is a moving target,” the Mr Andrews said.“These mutant strains are highly infectious, hyper-infectious, really, and it is a very significant cause for concern, not just for us but I think for every government and public health officials across the country.“These hyper-infectious strains are proving very difficult to contain and that’s a real challenge. “Not just for today but indeed for the weeks and months ahead as we move towards vaccinating the elderly, the frail and those who have been most susceptible to this virus.”Mr Andrews said authorities would redouble their efforts to respond to the unique challenges of the mutant strains.The Holiday Inn quarantine hotel at Melbourne Airport was closed immediately on Wednesday for “terminal cleaning” after the virus escaped into the community from the site.Three local cases have now been linked to the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn, with two confirmed late on Tuesday.The health department on Tuesday confirmed a second worker at the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn quarantine site, a woman aged in her 30s, and a returned traveller who had already completed quarantine tested positive to COVID-19 after leaving the hotel.Seven venues in Sunbury in Melbourne’s northwest have also been added to the public exposure sites list by the health department.NED-3006-VIC-Quarantine-14-daysjack.paynter@news.com.au
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