But The Hatter and the Hare later clarified it was not an exposure site, and customers may have been sent text messages incorrectly.The cafe posted on Facebook that it was closing on Tuesday, November 30, for precautionary measures due to a potential Covid exposure.“We have been told that a customer who visited the cafe on November 25th between 10.30 and 12pm has been contacted by the DHS about it and we are in the process of confirming the fact,” the cafe posted.“All bookings placed for today will be cancelled without any penalties. “We will keep you posted as soon as we get more information from the DHS.”But the cafe later clarified it was not an exposure site.Hatter and the Hare“We have confirmed with DHS that we are NOT an exposure site, and the notifications that have been sent out to customers who visited us on November 25th may have been caused by a system error,” the cafe posted.“We will remain closed for the rest of the day to do a deep clean so you can all visit us with confidence from tomorrow. Thank you for your patience!”Knox recorded 17 new Covid cases on Monday.DOZENS OF NEW CASES ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29Dozens of new Covid cases have been recorded across the outer east, with reports of long waiting times at testing stations.Knox (17), Yarra Ranges (21) and Maroondah (1) recorded a total of 39 new cases on Monday.But the total number of active cases continues to drop across the region.There are now 152 active cases in Yarra Ranges, 139 in Knox and 68 in Maroondah.It comes as many people took to social media on Monday, to report long wait times at many testing stations, including sites in Wantirna and Ferntree Gully.According to the state government’s coronavirus website, the EACH site in Frances Crescent closed because it was over capacity while the wait time at the Wantirna Trash and Treasure market was 90 minutes.It comes after Knox Basketball Incorporated confirmed two people with Covid had attended or played in games at its venues, one on Saturday, November 13, and another on Saturday, November 20, after its junior competitions resumed.CASES AT AGED CARE HOMESdozens of Covid cases have been recorded across three aged care homes in the outer east.According to data on the state government’s coronavirus website on November 15, the biggest cluster is at Royal Freemasons Centennial Lodge Wantirna South (22 cases) while Villa Maria Catholic Homes (VMCH) Wantirna At-Home Aged Care and Olivet Care Aged Care Services Ringwood each have 11 cases.It comes as Belgrave Bakery Italian Pasticceria reopens after a Covid scare.In a Facebook post on November 8, the bakery said the store would be closed for the next six days.“Our family has been tested positive to coronavirus and although all the rest of our staff has already been tested and are all negative, we’ll need to proceed to disinfect the premises and keep our community safe,” the post said.In an update on November 12, the bakery said it had been deep cleaned and staff had returned negative tests twice. Belgrave bakeryPOSITIVE CASE AT EASTLANDThe NAB branch at Eastland shopping centre has closed after a positive Covid case attended the bank.A NAB spokeswoman said anyone who visited the branch from Monday, November 1 to Thursday, November 4 between 9am – 5pm; and Friday, November 5 between 9am -11am should monitor for symptoms. She said a full pandemic clean of the branch had been completed.The branch remains closed while colleagues get tested and isolate, and is expected to reopen next week. Meanwhile a Belgrave bakery has also closed after a Covid scare.In a Facebook post on November 8, Belgrave Bakery Italian Pasticceria said the store would be closed for the next six days.“Our family has been tested positive to coronavirus and although all the rest of our staff has already been tested and are all negative, we’ll need to proceed to disinfect the premises and keep our community safe,” the post said.Bakery postThe Lilydale Aldi store has also undergone a deep clean after a positive Covid case visited the supermarket.In an update on its website, Aldi said it had been notified about a positive case of Covid attending the store on November 3.“While the risk of transmission to customers and team members is low, we have taken extra precautionary measures including an additional deep clean,” the store posted.“Customers should be assured that they can continue to shop safely at our Lilydale store.”COVID SCARE AT POST OFFICEThe Seville Post Office is set to reopen, after shutting temporarily due to a Covid scare.An Australia Post spokeswoman said the outlet had been closed temporarily due to a Covid exposure and the need for team members to be tested and isolate in-line with government requirements.PO Box and delivery services are continuing while the outlet is closed and carded items have been temporarily diverted to Wandin North Post Office.The Seville Post Office will reopen at 11am on Thursday, November 11.There were 10 new Covid cases in Yarra Ranges on Tuesday, with 141 active cases now in the municipality.Maroondah also recorded 10 new cases, while Knox recorded 21.There are now 147 active cases in Maroondah and 220 in Knox.SUPERMARKET WORKER TESTS POSITIVEA Seville supermarket worker and residents at a Wantirna South aged care home are the latest to be diagnosed with Covid in the outer east.It comes as a Coles at Westfield Knox was also listed as an exposure site.Woolworths said a staff member at its Seville store had tested positive to Covid.They last worked on November 2, from 8am – 5.30pm, and November 3, from 7.59am -5.30pm.According to an update from Coles, one of its supermarkets at Westfield Knox is also an exposure site.The exposure date is listed as Thursday October 28, between 5pm-10.30pm.The exposure level is listed as “casual contact – get tested immediately. Self-isolate until you get a negative result.” There has also been a Covid scare at Wellington Village Rowville.According to a post from the shopping centre on Facebook, The Tattooed Barber was closed on November 6 pending the management of a positive case that attended on Thursday (November 4) between 12-3pm.Barber postMeanwhile 20 Covid cases have been linked to the Royal Freemasons Centennial Lodge in Wantirna South.According to the state government’s list of latest outbreaks across the state, it is one of several aged care homes to be hit by the virus, with 14 cases linked to Lifeview Emerald Glades Aged Care Emerald, 13 cases linked to Olivet Care Aged Care Services Ringwood and 12 cases linked to Campbell Place Aged Care in Glen Waverley.According to an update from the federal government on November 5, there was also 15 resident cases and two staff cases in the Villa Maria Catholic Homes Wantirna aged care residence.There were 14 new Covid cases in Knox on Sunday, 11 in Maroondah and six in Yarra Ranges.There are now 215 active cases in Knox, 150 in Maroondah and 147 in Yarra Ranges.SCHOOLS HIT BY VIRUSThe first full week back at school after lockdown has seen several schools across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs hit by Covid.Great Ryrie Primary School, Heathmont was closed on Thursday after confirmed cases attended the school on Monday.In a social media post Principal Karen Rouda alerted parents to the closure and advised them they would be contacted directly if they or their child had been identified as having close contact with a case.Ms Rouda said due to late notice from the Department of Health of the positive cases the school was unable to offer remote learning on Thursday.It expected to return to face-to-face learning on Friday. The disruption was the third time the virus has impacted the school in two weeks. Wantirna College also confirmed an infected person had attended the school on Monday.However the school did not have to close as cleaning and contact tracing has already been conducted.The school advised families by social media that all those affected had already been contacted.Those identified as primary close contacts should get tested immediately and limit their movements outside the home.Maroondah recorded 7 new Covid cases on Thursday taking its total of active cases to 154.Knox (19) and Yarra Ranges (4) also recorded new cases.MORE COVID CASES HIT MELBOURNE’S EASTERN SUBURBSAs the state marked the first day of fewer than a 1000 new Covid cases since September, there are still spikes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with Knox recording 24 new cases as of Monday night.There are 324 active cases in Knox, with 83.4 per cent of the population double vaxxed.There have been 12 cases connected to the Lilydale Motor Inn, according to an update on the state government’s coronavirus website.Leader previously reported a state government program to get homeless people off Melbourne streets during Covid in 2020 had been linked to anti-social behaviour by motel guests, but it’s not known if this program has continued at the Lilydale Motor Inn.There were 20 new Covid cases reported in Yarra Ranges on Friday, with 240 active cases now spread across the municipality.Knox (19) and Maroondah (14) also recorded new cases. POSITIVE CASE AT LIQUORLANDThe Liquorland at Knox City Shopping Centre has been listed as an exposure site, after a positive case briefly visited the store.According to a listing on the Coles website, the positive case visited the store from 10.53am – 10.55am on Monday, October 18.Anyone at the store at that time should get tested urgently and isolate until they have a negative result.There were 24 new cases in Knox on Monday, nine in Maroondah and 28 in Yarra Ranges.There are now 352 active cases in Knox, 184 in Maroondah and 243 in Yarra Ranges.POSITIVE CASE AT ROWVILLE SHOPPING CENTREA fruit packing business, Boost Juice store and community pharmacy are the latest exposure sites in the outer east.Red Rich Fruits, at 713 Maroondah Highway Coldstream, has been identified as a Tier 1 site, after a Covid case attended the site from 7.30am – 5.30pm on October 14 and 15.A staff member from Boost Juice at Stud Park Shopping Centre Rowville has also tested positive to Covid.In a Facebook post, Stud Park advised customers the team member last worked between 2pm – 5pm on October 20.“We will continue to monitor the situation and we will update you if there is any change. The centre has undergone a thorough clean, as it does each night as part of our increased cleaning program that was introduced at the start of the pandemic,” the post said. Community Pharmacy Wantirna also confirmed a customer who visited its Wantirna Mall store at 1pm on October 21 had tested positive to Covid.“We have elected to close the store, will be having a company perform a deep clean this afternoon (Sunday October 24) & all staff will be undertaking Covid testing,” the store said on Facebook.LATEST EXPOSURE SITES IN THE OUTER EASTA Monbulk pharmacy and popular Ferntree Gully supermarket are the latest exposure sites in the outer east.Pharmasave Monbulk Pharmacy took to Facebook to alert customers a Covid case had visited its Main Rd store last Saturday October 16 between 10.45am -10.55am.“We are unsure if the case was infectious at the time, but the person wore a mask and obeyed distance rules,” the pharmacy said.“If you have been in-store during that time, please kindly watch out for symptoms and get tested.“The pharmacy has been cleaned tonight (Wednesday) and will open normal hours with fresh staff tomorrow.”It’s the second time the pharmacy has had a Covid scare, after another positive case visited its store on October 2.A positive case also attended Maxi’s supermarket on Burwood Highway Ferntree Gully on October 14.According to a sign from management at the supermarket, shared by the Upper FTGully Foothills Society on Facebook, the store has undergone a comprehensive clean and close contacts have been identified and are isolating.There were 28 new Covid cases in Knox on Wednesday, and 10 in Yarra Ranges.There are now 296 active cases in Knox and 220 in Yarra Ranges.AGED CARE HOME IN LOCKDOWNA Healesville aged care home has gone into a precautionary lockdown after a contractor tested positive to Covid.Aurrum chief executive Craig Rutherford said an essential contractor tested positive at Aurrum Healesville (from community transmission) and as a result the home had been placed into a precautionary 14 day lockdown.Mr Rutherford said Covid testing of residents and staff had all come back negative. “The care home will remain in precautionary lockdown for 14 days at this time,” he said.“All staff have been vaccinated, and almost all residents have been vaccinated apart from several who have previously declined. “At this stage the risk assessment is low but extra precautions will remain for 14 days.” Mr Rutherford said visitors were already restricted to the home under public health directives for aged care. There are also 17 cases linked to Ferndale Gardens Aged Care Services in Bayswater North.WOOLIES STAFF TEST POSITIVEAnother staff member from Woolworths Ferntree Gully has tested positive to Covid.The team member last worked on October 14 and 15, from 9.59pm to 6.30am.It follows another positive case at the store on October 10.A staff member from Woolworths Chirnside Park has also tested positive to the virus.They last worked at the Maroondah Highway store from 10.56am – 4.40pm on October 7 and from 3.57pm – 6.50pm October 9.Yarra Ranges and Knox each recorded 20 new cases on Sunday.There are now 230 active cases in Yarra Ranges, and 663 in Knox.POSITIVE CASE AT ALDIThere’s been a positive Covid case at the Ferntree Gully Aldi store.The discount supermarket giant is asking customers who shopped at the Burwood Highway store on any of the following days to follow public health advice:October 1, between 3pm – 7pm October 2, between 6am – 12.40pm October 9, between 6am – 2.30pmOctober 10, between 6am – 2.40pmOctober 11, between 6am – 2.30pm October 13, between 6am – 1pm.The store is not listed on the Department of Health exposure site website, but anyone who visited the store during those times is urged to get tested if they have any symptoms.“While the risk of transmission to customers and team members is low, we have taken extra precautionary measures including an additional deep clean,” Aldi said.“Customers should be assured that they can continue to shop safely at our Ferntree Gully store.”There were 35 new Covid cases reported in Knox on Thursday, with 290 active cases across the council area.POSITIVE CASES AT MCDONALD’SStaff members at two McDonald’s stores in Knox have been diagnosed with Covid.In a statement, McDonald’s Australia confirmed some staff members at its Rowville restaurant had tested positive for the virus.“The initial cases were acquired through external contact, with other staff testing positive while in isolation,” the statement said.“The restaurant was deep-cleaned overnight on Sunday October 10.“A staff member has also tested positive after working at the Boronia restaurant on Friday October 8.“All potential casual and close contacts have been identified, notified and are isolating in accordance with standard COVIDSafe procedures. No connection between the Rowville and Boronia cases has been identified.“Throughout the pandemic, McDonald’s Australia continues to work closely with the Health Department to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our people and customers.“Every day, in every shift, our employees follow strict cleaning, quality control and hygiene procedures.“McDonald’s Australia continues to operate in accordance with the Government’s advice regarding all Covid-Safe procedures.”WOOLWORTHS STAFF TEST POSITIVEStaff at two Woolworths stores in Knox have tested positive to Covid.The supermarket giant said the team member at its Ferntree Gully store, at 1038 – 1042 Burwood Highway, last worked on October 10.It said the impacted staff at its Boronia Junction store, at 127 Boronia Rd, last worked from 11.58am – 5.40pm, and 11am – 4.30pm on October 2.“The team members have received Department of Health advice and are following isolation requirements,” Woolworths said on its website.HOSPITALS PREPARE FOR INFLUX IN CASESEastern Health has erected marquees out the front of its three emergency departments as it deals with rising Covid cases.The marquees have been put up at Box Hill, Maroondah and Angliss Hospitals to help with the streaming of patients through emergency departments.“With a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community and growing demand on the hospitals, these structures are for pre-assessment and triage of people requiring emergency medical care,” Eastern Health posted online. “The marquees will provide assessment spaces for walk-in patients while they await onward management of their presenting condition as required. The space will be fully operational with heating, cooling and air purification to ensure the comfort and safety of both the patients and staff.”It comes as more exposure sites emerge in the outer east.Pharmasave Monbulk Pharmacy said a positive Covid case had visited its store last Saturday, October 2, between 10-10.30am.“If you have been in-store during that time, please kindly watch out for symptoms and get tested,” the pharmacy posted online.The KingKids Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten in Mooroolbark has also been listed as a Tier 1 site.A positive case attended the centre between 8am-midday on September 29, 30 and October 1.EXPOSURE SITES IN THE OUTER EASTMedCentral Knox revealed a positive Covid case had visited its clinic at Westfield Knox between 9.45am-10.30am on September 28.The clinic closed for cleaning last Friday.“We would like to reassure everyone that we were following all the required Covid safe guidelines at the time,” the clinic posted on Facebook.“As always our highest priority is your health and wellbeing and advise anyone who was at the clinic from Tuesday 28th September to go and get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.” A positive case also attended the Knox City Post Office, with the outlet closed while staff test and isolate.The case attended the store from 11am – 4pm Tuesday, September 28, and from 11am – 3pm Wednesday, September 29.An Australia Post spokesperson said deep cleaning had taken place and it was providing support to its team. A notice has also been displayed at the Post Office to advise the community of the closure.The Post Office will be closed for in-store services for a number of days, but the contactless parcel hatch is operating, and PO Box services are continuing. There have also been 17 cases linked to the Community Kids Bayswater Early Education Centre in Bayswater North.It comes after a staff member from Woolworths Chirnside Park tested positive to Covid.The employee last worked at the Maroondah Highway store from 11am- 4.30pm on September 26.“The team member has received Department of Health advice and is following isolation requirements,” Woolworths posted on its website.There has also been a confirmed Covid case at a popular Olinda cafe.Social media lit up on Friday with reports of a possible case in the hills, with the operators of The Deli Platter – Delicatessen Cafe Providore taking to Facebook to confirm the news.The operators of the cafe at 1514 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd said they had self reported to the Department of Health.In an update on Saturday October 2, the operators said one team member at the cafe had returned a positive test last evening (Friday) and was now isolating.The staff member worked every day from Sunday, September 26 to Thursday, September 30.“This employee was not unwell while working and did not display any symptoms,” the post said.“This does however confirm us as a Tier 1 site.“We have contact DHHS and are working collaboratively with the Department and taking their advice.“We would strongly encourage anyone who has been at our location since Sunday 26th (September) to have a Covid test.”The cafe closed on Friday morning before having a positive test confirmed.The operator also confirmed they had been diagnosed with Covid, along with two other family members.“We do not know where or when we were exposed,” they wrote.“I, nor any other family members have been at the deli for over the week.“No one has been working while unwell or showing any symptoms.”In neighbouring Knox, the Rowville Medical Clinic has been declared a Tier 1 site.Anyone who visited the Wellington Rd centre between 4.50pm – 5.40pm on September 28 should get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.Victoria recorded 1488 locally acquired cases on Saturday, including 13 in Yarra Ranges, 20 in Knox and 13 in Maroondah.There are now 53 active cases in Yarra Ranges, 114 in Knox and 94 in Maroondah.It comes as a number of businesses in the Yarra Ranges have taken to social media to warn customers they are Covid exposure sites, despite no official listing online.Woori Yallock Foodworks management posted it had a positive case attend its store last Saturday.“The staff that worked that shift have/will been tested as Tier 2 exposure, if negative can resume work plus we have deep cleaning as by Foodworks direction,” the store posted on Facebook. “If you were in the shop between 1 and 2.30pm then please get tested.”Murphy’s Mitre 10 in Monbulk also posted it had a customer visit last Saturday who later tested positive to Covid.“On Saturday 25th September between 12:40- 12:50pm, a gentleman made a purchase in our Trade Yard,” the store posted on Facebook.“I was contacted by his wife yesterday that after having a fall and presently at the hospital, he has been tested positive to Covid-19. He is well and has returned home.“We just want to reassure the community that we have taken all the necessary steps as directed by DHHS and WorkSafe as a Tier 2 site. “The staff members rostered on this day, have all been tested and will isolate until negative. “The Trade Office has been heavily cleaned. Fortunately no other customers crossed his path.” It comes after the Kinglake Hotel was listed as an official exposure site on the State Government’s coronavirus website this week, after a positive case attended on September 11.The pub had already alerted customers on Facebook when it first found out about the case.“Bad news you may have seen we made it onto the government exposure site list,” the pub posted on September 28.“Good news is we didn’t wait to appear on the list before taking action and after the initial advice we followed all the guidelines and instructions as per the coronavirus Victoria website and … we are now OK to reopen.”The Department of Health said it regularly manages exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if the sites represent lower-risk exposure, or if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact-tracing measures, or if they identify small, private locations – including smaller apartment or townhouse complexes.It comes after 38 new Covid cases were recorded in the outer east on Tuesday, prompting a warning from health officials for residents to be alert.Deputy secretary of Covid response, Kate Matson, said health authorities were starting to see cases grow in the east, with 14 new cases in Maroondah, 14 in Knox, and 10 in Yarra Ranges on Tuesday.“Please if you’re in the east of Melbourne, remain vigilant,” she said.It comes as a positive Covid case visited Chirnside Park Shopping Centre on September 22.“The affected individual was present at Chirnside Medical Clinic (Tier 1) from 9.55am-10.22am, and Chemist Warehouse (Tier 2) from 10.23am – 10.29am,” the shopping centre posted online.The Community Kids Bayswater Early Education Centre has also been listed as a Tier 1 site.An infected individual visited the Bayswater North centre, at 291 Canterbury Rd, between 8.30am – 5.30pm on September 21 and between 6.30am – 7.30am on September 23.
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