Coronavirus update for Victoria – 17 June 2021

Victoria was notified of one new case of COVID-19 yesterday.

The new case is a man in his 60s who is a returned international traveller in hotel quarantine.

There were no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in Victoria.

There were seven COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria yesterday. One case is in intensive care.

There are 54 active cases in Victoria – 37 are locally acquired and 17 are overseas acquired cases.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,678.

Update: Outbreaks

There has been a comprehensive response to testing of primary close contacts linked to the recent Southbank outbreak.

All 21 residents who live in close proximity to the four identified Southbank cases have returned negative test results. They will be asked to test every two days while they undertake 14 days of quarantine.

Of the other 182 residents identified as contacts, more than 90 per cent have returned negative test results. They will be asked to test again at day 5 of their isolation.

Yesterday, more than 100,000 text messages were sent to phone numbers in Southbank, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne and to people with QR code check-ins at exposures sites asking them to get tested. This led to a significant increase in the number of people attending testing centres.

A pop-up testing centre at Southbank completed more than 400 tests yesterday, of which 350 have already returned negative results. Additional testing facilities have also been established in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne.

Significant community support, including providing food, medicines and dog-walking services, have been put in place for Southbank residents at the apartment complex.

Yesterday, we reported a new case in a healthcare worker who worked in the COVID-19 ward at the Epping Private Hospital.

11 staff members at Epping Private have been identified as Tier 1 primary close contacts and are quarantining for 14 days. All other 23 staff at Epping Private have been tested, with 22 negative test results received.

Staff working at Epping Private will undergo daily COVID-19 tests while positive COVID-19 patients remain in their care.

The healthcare worker positive case also worked at a medical ward at the Northern Hospital on 11 and 12 June, with 27 staff and 5 patients identified as primary close contacts who are required to quarantine for 14 days. All other staff in the affected section of the hospital are being tested.

In addition, the case attended Northern Hospital’s Immunisation Clinic on 14 June to be vaccinated. Five staff and 25 people receiving vaccinations at the time the positive case was there have been contacted and are isolating.

The immunisation clinic will not be listed as a public exposure site as all primary close contacts have been contacted. If you attended this clinic on 14 June but have not been contacted by public health officials you are not required to isolate or get tested.

The full list of Victorian exposure sites can be seen at Case alerts public exposure sites.

The Department also manages a number of exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact tracing measures in place, or if they identify small, private locations.

Exposure sites are regularly reviewed based on intelligence and evidence, following case interviews.

Update: New South Wales travel permit zone

The Chief Health Officer is assessing the public health risks of community transmission within NSW and has initially designated the NSW Local Government Areas of City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra as orange zones under Victoria’s travel permit system.

Anyone arriving into Victoria from City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra LGAs must obtain an orange zone permit at Service Victoria, isolate and get tested upon arrival and stay isolated until they receive a negative result.

Anyone who has arrived into Victoria from City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra LGAs from 11 June must isolate, get tested, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result. To see where to get tested, visit Where to get tested.

Further updates may be provided based on public heath advice. The Chief Health Officer strongly advises those planning to travel from Victoria to the City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra LGAs to reconsider.

All arrivals into Victoria must apply for a travel permit at Service Victoria, even if you are in a green zone. For more information, visit Victorian Travel Permit System.

NSW Health has published a list of exposure sites online at Latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW. If you are in Victoria and have been to these locations, follow the listed advice and contact us at 1300 651 160.

Update: Vaccinations

Yesterday 15,610 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.

This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered at state-commissioned services to 850,363.

Victoria’s online booking system is now live at Book your vaccine appointment.

The online booking system for vaccinations is performing well since going live on Tuesday. More than 26,000 bookings have been made online and about 13,000 Pfizer appointments remain available for the rest of this week.

Victorians awaiting their second dose are encouraged to book online today or call the coronavirus hotline.

The full list of walk-in centres, their opening times, and walk-in guidance, is available at Vaccination centres.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) today released a statement advising that the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 60 years.

We are assessing the implications for the Victorian rollout of the Australian Government's COVID-19 vaccination program, which will need to be worked through.

There is strong demand for eligible Victorians to be vaccinated and protected against COVID-19. Over 1.8 million doses have been administered across state, general practice and Commonwealth programs in Victoria, and we thank everyone who has already come forward to be vaccinated.

In line with ATAGI’s recommendations, any person aged 60 years and over will continue to be offered the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as the preferred vaccine at state vaccination centres.

If you are aged 50-59 years and currently booked to receive you first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine between Thursday 17 June 2021 and Sunday 20 June 2021, you will be offered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

People booked to receive their first dose of AstraZeneca from Monday 21 June in the 50-59 age group may be contacted by the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline (1800 675 398) or their health service to offer them a booking for Pfizer.

If you have received your first dose of the vaccine without serious adverse reaction, you are strongly encouraged to receive the second dose as planned. This is safe and recommended by ATAGI.

Patient consent forms and consumer information sheets are available from the Australian Government Department of Health.

Update: Testing

Victorians responded yesterday to our call or more people to come forward to be tested with 25,635 tests processed.

Only through extensive testing can we be certain we are rapidly identifying all COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

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.

Update: Eased restrictions

From 11.59pm tonight, restrictions will further ease on the advice of the Chief Health Officer.

The safety of all Victorians remains our top priority, which is why all metropolitan Melbourne visitors to our alpine resorts will need to provide evidence of a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test result that was conducted within 72 hours of leaving their home in Melbourne.

All Melbourne residents 12 years and over will need to show proof of a negative test before entering a resort. This evidence may be an email or a text. Without this evidence of a negative test result, you will not be able to enter the resort. We understand this might be challenging for some people – but it will help us keep the alpine resorts safe and operating.

More information can be found at the Statement from the acting Premier.

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 symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.

For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit Coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

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