Department of Health

Three new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria - 9 March 2020

09/03/20
Published by Department of Health & Human Services

This media release was issued on 9 March 2020.

A further three cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed last night – bringing to 15 the total number of cases in Victoria.

Two of the most recent cases are returned travellers from the USA and one from Iran.

One of the returnees from America, a man in his 50s, was on the same flight – UA60 on February 29 - as the 11th case. He has a very mild illness and it is not clear if he picked up the virus on the flight or while overseas. He was not unwell on the flight but had mild symptoms the day after he arrived.

He is now recovering in home isolation.

Prior to his diagnosis he visited Wine by Sam in Seymour on March 3 – arriving at 12.30 pm and leaving at 3.30 pm. The visit included a winery tour and lunch.

Then, on March 5 he attended Cinema Nova in Carlton from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm for a private screening of The Amber Light.

For the virus to spread, extended close personal contact is required. But visitors to these locations should be aware of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Close personal contact is at least 15 minutes face-to-face or more than 2 hours in the same room.

The second patient from America, a woman in her 20s, returned from Colorado on QF94, from Los Angeles arriving in Melbourne at 9.40 am on March 6. She too is recovering in home isolation.

The third traveller, a woman in her 50s returned from Tehran via Kuala Lumpur on MH0149 arriving at 9.00 am on March 6.

She became unwell on 18 February while in Tehran with cough, fever and shortness of breath. On arrival in Melbourne she was driven immediately to hospital by a relative and treated for pneumonia. She remains in quarantine in hospital, in a stable condition.

There are no public exposure sites for either of the two female cases. Close contacts of all these cases are being advised and monitored.

The flight manifests of QF94 and MH0149 are being obtained to begin contact tracing of passengers in the same and adjacent rows. The department is continuing to work through the flight manifest of UA60 to identify and contact all close contacts.

Support is also being provided to the cases who are now in home isolation.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has a hotline for public information on COVID-19 which is 1800 675 398.

For more information visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirusExternal Link

Reviewed 08 November 2021

Health.vic

Contact details

Media Unit

50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Phone (03) 9096 8860
press@health.vic.gov.au
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