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06-27-2020, 09:53 AM
Emergency texts sent to two Victorian suburbs where COVID-19 cases are on the rise as state records biggest daily spike in months
Residents of two suburbs were sent “an emergency alert” today as Victoria recorded 41 new cases - one of its worst days of the coronavirus pandemic so far.
“COVID-19 teams doorknocking in your area. Stay safe. Get tested today.”
That was the message sent to thousands of Melburnians in two suburbs directly impacted by today’s sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
Victoria recorded 41 new cases today. That figure represents the highest daily total in almost three months and the second highest daily total since the pandemic began.
It means that Victoria has seen a double-figure day-on-day increase in coronavirus cases for 11 consecutive days.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, is providing an update on COVID-19 in Victoria. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/3OIPMaQhhg">https://t.co/3OIPMaQhhg</a></p>— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1276736588270034945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen told reporters Saturday afternoon that residents in two suburbs, Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows, had been sent the emergency text.
“An emergency alert has been sent to people in Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows to let them know there are testing vans and door knockers and expanded community engagement teams in their area, and to please get tested,” Dr van Diemen said.
“(The new cases) predominantly are in the inner northwest corridor suburbs, so really in those hotspot suburbs … in those LGAs that have been discussed in the last week,” she said.
“So we’re not seeing any real uptick in cases at the moment in those other areas of Melbourne.
“The message really does remain, if you are symptomatic, please get tested straightaway in any one of our testing centres, through your GP, or other respiratory clinics.”
Dr van Diemen was asked if the increase in cases represents a “second wave”. She paused for a few seconds before responding: “Terminology really at this point in time is not that important.”
She went on to say that she hopes Victoria’s curve doesn’t continue to climb.
“Our case numbers are increasing so when you look at our overall epidemiological curve there will be, and I’m hoping very soon, a second bump or second peak, and so that is what this is.”
“This is not something any of us have experienced before,” she added.
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RISING
Of today’s 41 new cases, eight cases are linked to known outbreaks, one case is from hotel quarantine, 13 cases are from routine testing and 19 are under further investigation.
Dr van Diemen said 15 of the new cases under investigation were the result of community transmission with “no clear source”.
But there is no evidence of community transmission being linked to people leaving hotel quarantine, she added, following news this week that 30 per cent of returned travellers are refusing tests.
RELATED: Returned travellers in Victoria refusing tests
The state is now seeking legal advice on whether testing for returned travellers can be mandated.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBriggs/status/1276750295356198912/photo/1
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said people who refused tests while in quarantine in New South Wales were retained for longer than the usual 14 days.
“Ultimately, if someone gets the coronavirus, they are endangering the lives of others across the community,” he said.
Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said returned travellers who refused tests were “reckless”.
“If they are not prepared to do that, they shouldn’t come back,” he told ABC TV.
Labor frontbencher Linda Burney also described their actions as “really selfish”, but did not go as far as calling for mandatory testing.
There are 204 active cases in Victoria, with five in hospital, including one in intensive care.
The state has recorded a total of 1987 cases but more than 1700 people have recovered.
More than 758,000 total tests had been done to date on Saturday, an increase of close to 22,000 in the past 24 hours.
Article & More (https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/emergency-texts-sent-to-two-victorian-suburbs-where-covid19-cases-are-on-the-rise/news-story/04a6eef82bea5c460a474da999700867)
Residents of two suburbs were sent “an emergency alert” today as Victoria recorded 41 new cases - one of its worst days of the coronavirus pandemic so far.
“COVID-19 teams doorknocking in your area. Stay safe. Get tested today.”
That was the message sent to thousands of Melburnians in two suburbs directly impacted by today’s sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
Victoria recorded 41 new cases today. That figure represents the highest daily total in almost three months and the second highest daily total since the pandemic began.
It means that Victoria has seen a double-figure day-on-day increase in coronavirus cases for 11 consecutive days.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, is providing an update on COVID-19 in Victoria. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/3OIPMaQhhg">https://t.co/3OIPMaQhhg</a></p>— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1276736588270034945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen told reporters Saturday afternoon that residents in two suburbs, Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows, had been sent the emergency text.
“An emergency alert has been sent to people in Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows to let them know there are testing vans and door knockers and expanded community engagement teams in their area, and to please get tested,” Dr van Diemen said.
“(The new cases) predominantly are in the inner northwest corridor suburbs, so really in those hotspot suburbs … in those LGAs that have been discussed in the last week,” she said.
“So we’re not seeing any real uptick in cases at the moment in those other areas of Melbourne.
“The message really does remain, if you are symptomatic, please get tested straightaway in any one of our testing centres, through your GP, or other respiratory clinics.”
Dr van Diemen was asked if the increase in cases represents a “second wave”. She paused for a few seconds before responding: “Terminology really at this point in time is not that important.”
She went on to say that she hopes Victoria’s curve doesn’t continue to climb.
“Our case numbers are increasing so when you look at our overall epidemiological curve there will be, and I’m hoping very soon, a second bump or second peak, and so that is what this is.”
“This is not something any of us have experienced before,” she added.
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RISING
Of today’s 41 new cases, eight cases are linked to known outbreaks, one case is from hotel quarantine, 13 cases are from routine testing and 19 are under further investigation.
Dr van Diemen said 15 of the new cases under investigation were the result of community transmission with “no clear source”.
But there is no evidence of community transmission being linked to people leaving hotel quarantine, she added, following news this week that 30 per cent of returned travellers are refusing tests.
RELATED: Returned travellers in Victoria refusing tests
The state is now seeking legal advice on whether testing for returned travellers can be mandated.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBriggs/status/1276750295356198912/photo/1
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said people who refused tests while in quarantine in New South Wales were retained for longer than the usual 14 days.
“Ultimately, if someone gets the coronavirus, they are endangering the lives of others across the community,” he said.
Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman said returned travellers who refused tests were “reckless”.
“If they are not prepared to do that, they shouldn’t come back,” he told ABC TV.
Labor frontbencher Linda Burney also described their actions as “really selfish”, but did not go as far as calling for mandatory testing.
There are 204 active cases in Victoria, with five in hospital, including one in intensive care.
The state has recorded a total of 1987 cases but more than 1700 people have recovered.
More than 758,000 total tests had been done to date on Saturday, an increase of close to 22,000 in the past 24 hours.
Article & More (https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/emergency-texts-sent-to-two-victorian-suburbs-where-covid19-cases-are-on-the-rise/news-story/04a6eef82bea5c460a474da999700867)