Coronavirus update for Victoria - 13 March 2021

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) since yesterday.

This is the 15^th day in a row that Victoria has recorded no locally acquired new cases of COVID-19.

The total number of COVID-19 cases linked to the Holiday Inn remains at 24.

There are three active cases in Victoria, made up of one locally acquired case, unchanged since yesterday, and two overseas acquired cases, unchanged since yesterday.

There are no COVID-19 patients in hospital in Victoria.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,483.

Update: Vaccinations

A total of 4,350 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered yesterday at hospital vaccination hubs across Victoria.

This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered in Victoria since the program started on Monday 22 February to 30,298.

Our capacity to vaccinate 1b priority groups – including police, fire protection and emergency service workers – will be bolstered with plans progressing for high-volume vaccination centres located at the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This builds on plans underway for a high-volume vaccination centre located at the former Ford factory in Geelong.

The commencement of these sites in the coming weeks, and other potential locations across the state, will depend on vaccine supply from the Commonwealth.

COVID-19 case identified at a Queensland Hospital

Due to the COVID-19 positive case in Queensland involving a doctor at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Victorian health authorities are contacting all arrivals to Victoria from Brisbane since 10 March using data captured by the Travel Permit System.

With the identification by Queensland health authorities of three high risk exposure sites, we will be requiring anyone who visited those sites at the times specified to immediately isolate and be tested.

The following associated exposure sites on Thursday 11 March have been identified:

• The Morning After Café at West End between 14:00 and 15:15
• The Corporate Box Gym at Greenslopes between 17:45 and 19:00
• The Stones Corner Hotel at Stones Corner between 19:00 and 19:45

Anyone in Victoria who visited these sites at the designated times will be treated as a primary close contact and are required to quarantine for 14 days.

Queensland Health advises that further information is being obtained on The Corporate Box Gym and Stones Corner Hotel venues and the risk assessment may be updated. More information available on the Queensland Government website.

Queensland Health has also identified a lower risk exposure site on Thursday 11 March:

• McDonald's Restaurant at Coorparoo between 15.10 and 15.20 – case attended via the drive through

Anyone in Victoria who visited this site at the specified time is required to contact the Department of Health, and to stay isolated until they have received a negative test result.

Victoria’s Department of Health is monitoring further developments in the case, including the possible addition of further exposure sites.

Victoria is working to support Queensland authorities and has confidence in its systems to contain the case.

Under Victoria’s Travel Permit System, areas of Brisbane may be re-designated as red or orange zones by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer as further information emerges.

Viral fragments detected in suburban wastewater

Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been recently detected in wastewater samples taken from sewer catchments that service several Melbourne suburbs.

Anyone with even mild COVID-19 symptoms is urged to get tested, especially who lives in or has visited these areas from 9 to 11 March:

• Laverton and Laverton North from 9 to 11 March
• Werribee (east of the Werribee River) from 9 to 11 March
• Balwyn North, Blackburn North, Box Hill North, Bulleen, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Mitcham, Mont Albert North and Nunawading from 9 to 11 March.
• Sunbury (north-eastern area) from 7 to 11 March.

Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with COVID-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period.

Wastewater monitoring is now undertaken at 142 locations across Victoria including 70 wastewater treatment plants and 72 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewage networks.

Further information about the wastewater testing program.

Update: New testing site in Boronia

All Victorians must get tested and stay home if they experience even the mildest symptoms of COVID-19.

Results from testing give us the most complete picture of where the virus is and how it is spreading.

Today, a new drive-through testing site was opened at Boronia Train Station carpark, corner of William Street and Chandler Road. The site will operate from 9am-5pm every day and can accommodate nearly 70 vehicles at any one time.

The Department is publishing expected wait times at testing sites as well as updated information about locations and hours of operation at Where to get tested.

General advice

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If you are experiencing any symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.

There are no current active exposure sites in Victoria. A list of exposure sites is published at Case locations and outbreaks.

Travel permit applications can be made through the Service Victoria portal.

For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria.

Latest statewide numbers (data reported to 11:59 pm yesterday):