Coronavirus update for Victoria - 20 February 2021

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus since yesterday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases now linked to the Holiday Inn remains at 22.

There are 25 active cases in Victoria, made up of 19 locally acquired cases and six overseas acquired cases. There are six cases in hotel quarantine.

There is one COVID-19 patient in hospital in Victoria at this time, this individual is in a stable condition.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,479.

Update: Holiday Inn Cases

There are no new cases of COVID-19 linked to the Holiday Inn.

One new Tier 3 public exposure site has been identified – the Coles Express service station at 21 Ardena Crt on the corner of East Boundary Road, Bentleigh East, between from 1pm-1.40pm on 18 February.

This site is linked to a positive case announced yesterday.

Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site should monitor for symptoms and if symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

In relation to the Holiday Inn cases, the Department has identified more than 3000 primary close contacts, which includes 59 primary close contacts linked to households and social groups and 1361 primary close contacts linked to exposure sites. The remainder worked or resided in Hotel Quarantine or visited the Melbourne Airport Terminal 4 exposure site.

The Department is making progress clearing a large number of primary close contacts at Melbourne Airport Terminal 4 after the movements of the positive case in that terminal were reviewed. So far, 485 incoming and departing passengers have been contacted about those arrangements. That work is ongoing.

The Department will be calling current primary close contacts from the airport over the coming days to assess their individual risk and understand where they went in the terminal. These individuals will be contacted by us directly – please do not self-assess your own situation.

The number of identified close contacts, particularly those linked to exposure sites, will continue to change as exposure sites and cohorts are cleared and others are identified.

Of primary close contacts identified by the Department on 16 February, 100 per cent were notified within the 48-hour benchmark.

Update: Exposure sites

The Department is continuing to work through testing primary close contacts linked to the Queen Victoria Market exposure site.

At that site, the Department has identified 212 primary close contacts. 71 of those are staff and students at St Aloysius Primary Ballarat – all of whom have tested negative. These contacts are due for their Day 11 testing on Monday.

Similarly, everyone linked to the exposure sites at two early learning settings in Glenroy have tested negative.

All current exposure sites can be seen at Case locations and outbreaks. This website is rapidly updated as any new sites are identified.

Update: Viral fragments detected again in Carrum Downs and Langwarrin wastewater catchment

Residents of and recent visitors to Carrum Downs, Langwarrin and Skye with even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms are urged to get tested after viral fragments were again detected in the local wastewater catchment.

Detections of viral fragments found in two wastewater samples collected between 15 February and 17 February have been confirmed by further laboratory testing.

Viral fragments were also detected this week in wastewater samples taken in the Wantirna South and Boronia area, and in the St Kilda East and Caulfield North area.

Anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 is urged to get tested, especially if you live in or have visited:

• Carrum Downs or Langwarrin from 13 to 17 February (includes parts of Skye)
• Wantirna South or Boronia from 13 to 15 February (includes parts of Bayswater, Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield and Tremont)
• St Kilda East or Caufield North from 13 to 16 February (includes parts of Balaclava, Caulfield and Elsternwick).

Wastewater monitoring is now undertaken at 132 locations across Victoria including 71 wastewater treatment plants and 61 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewage networks.

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.

Further information can be found at Wastewater monitoring.

COVID-19 vaccination program

From Monday, Victorians who are most at risk of getting coronavirus will start receiving vaccinations.

This includes hotel quarantine workers, port of entry workers, and frontline health staff who are most likely to come into contact with suspected COVID-19 cases due to where they work – such as specialist COVID wards, or major ICUs where suspected cases are referred.

We will also commence vaccinating public sector aged care staff and residents – while the Commonwealth are responsible for private aged care and the disability sector.

That work will all commence from our hubs at Austin Health, Barwon Health, Western Health and Monash Health. Monash Health will also work with the Alfred Health on the initial rollout to high-risk workers.

All hospital vaccination hubs will come online in the coming weeks once the critical, high-risk workforce is vaccinated.

For more information visit COVID-19 vaccines.

Update: Expanded testing capacity

17,701 test results were received over the last 24 hours.

Demand for testing is stable across the system, with no waiting times longer than an hour.

Our rapid response teams in Sunbury, Point Cook and Coburg were stood down yesterday – and that surge capacity is now in hand, ready to deploy at any moment toward any emerging sites of concern. These teams are continuing to deliver the in-home testing program.

With high temperatures forecast today, some testing sites may have to close or alter their hours of operation.

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.

Circuit-breaker actions lifted

Restrictions under Victoria’s circuit-breaker actions have ended. From 11:59pm 17 February 2021 Victoria returned to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions – with some revised conditions.

There are no longer only four reasons to leave home and the five-kilometre restriction no longer applies. Schools, restaurants and retails can reopen and both public and private office workers can return up to 50 per cent on site.

There are a number of revised conditions that will continue for another nine days until Friday 26 February, subject to public health advice.

These include:

• Limiting visitors to your home to five people per day
• Limiting public gatherings with friends and family to 20 people
• Limiting visitors to hospitals and aged care facilities to one household per day with some specific exceptions

Face masks must continue be worn indoors, except in residential homes. Face masks are also required outdoors whenever you cannot physically distance.

For more information about all the circuit-breaker actions, please visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria.

General advice

Coronavirus (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. 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):