Three new COVID-19 cases, linked to the Chadstone cluster, have emerge in Shepparton, advises Goulburn Valley Health. Residents of Shepparton have been advised to be tested for COVID-19 and the department’s Jeroen Weimar, who is in charge of testing, said authorities expected further cases would emerge in Shepparton and contact tracing has begun.
Residents of Shepparton have been advised to be tested for COVID-19 and the department’s Jeroen Weimar, who is in charge of testing, said authorities expected further cases would emerge in Shepparton and contact tracing has begun.
Dependent on the numbers being right, here are the main dos and don’ts as Melbourne continues toward the end of COVID lockdown. “We have three active cases that are self-isolating at home and are being monitored by Goulburn Valley Health,” Mr Weimar said. “Extensive contact tracing has commenced by local authorities. We expect as part of that effort, further cases will be discovered.”
“To everyone locally – even if you haven’t been near these locations – if you feel unwell at all, please get tested as soon as possible and stay at home until you get your results,” Mr Weimar said. He reminded Shepparton residents that financial payments available to assist those who need support to stay home from work.
“We’re asking everyone in the local community – and any Victorian who has loved ones in Shepparton – to share this message.”
Matt Sharp, the chief executive of Goulburn Valley Health, said in a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday night the Shepparton cases were linked to the Chadstone cluster in Melbourne’s south-east, which has grown to more than 35 cases. It’s not yet clear how the cluster at Chadstone, which began in late September at a butcher shop, spread to Shepparton.
The Chadstone cluster seeped into regional Victoria last week when a person associated with the outbreak dined at a Kilmore cafe. Kilmore is about 120km south of Shepparton and it is not known if cases in the two towns are linked. The 14-day daily rolling average of cases recorded in regional Victoria was 0.4 before the new cases emerged. Regional areas have already advanced to step three of the reopening roadmap enabling more social interaction and fewer restrictions on businesses.
The independent state MP for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said in Parliament late on Tuesday she was “gutted” after receiving a briefing on the news from Health Minister Martin Foley. “We’ve been clear for many weeks and to find out that tonight there are [three] active cases, possibly with many contacts … is extremely upsetting,” she said.
“It comes at a time for all of us, but especially in Melbourne, I see it driving in, when life has been sucked out of this place. It’s a truly tragic thing to see. “I’m not here to blame anyone for that because it’s the virus that’s doing it. It’s running absolutely rampant across the world … but we had a moment of hope in regional Victoria where we might have been able to have a much better result.”
A pop-up testing site is due to be established at the city’s showgrounds at 12.30pm, advice from the Department of Health and Human Services says. Residents can also get tested at GV Health’s Acute Respiratory Clinic at Graham Street, Shepparton.
High risk locations in Shepparton are:
- Central Tyre Service, Welsford Street Shepparton from Wednesday, September 30 to Tuesday, October 13
- Bunnings Warehouse, Midland Highway Shepparton Friday, October 2
- McDonalds Shepparton North, 175 Midland Highway Shepparton Saturday, October 3
- Mooroopna Golf Club Members Bar, Sunday, October 4 and Pro Shop and Members Bar Sunday, October 11
- Shepparton Market Place Medical Centre, Midland Highway Shepparton Thursday, October 8
- Lemon Tree Café, Fryers Street Shepparton, Wednesday, October 7 to Monday, October 12
- Thai Orchid Restaurant, Nixon Street Shepparton on Wednesday, October 7 from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
- Bombshell Hairdressing, Fryers Street Shepparton on Wednesday, October 7 9.30am to 10.30am.
The Goulburn Valley Health hotline can be contacted on 1800 313 070 between 8am and 8pm.
