Victoria records 190 new local COVID-19 cases as data shows schools spreading capacity

Victoria has recorded 190 new local coronavirus cases on Saturday as health data revealed most of the state’s recent infections have stemmed from schools and childcare centres than any other type of setting.

More than 100 cases have been linked to the state’s current Delta outbreak, and health authorities are investigating the acquisition source for the remaining 87.

Long lines of people wanting to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at Melbourne Town Hall on Friday.Credit:Paul Jeffers

No new cases were recorded in the state’s hotel quarantine. Saturday’s cases were reported from nearly 49,550 COVID-19 tests.

The Department of Health did not specify how many of the cases were in isolation throughout their entire infectious period, and said more information would be provided on Saturday morning.

The figures come after new data from the department revealed on Friday that more of Victoria’s COVID-19 cases recorded in the past month have stemmed from schools and childcare centres over other settings.

Almost 40 per cent of the approximately 1202 cases recorded from the start of August to Thursday have been linked to these kinds of sites, with 313 from schools and 142 from childcare centres.

Otherwise, essential workplaces accounted for more than 250 infections, hospital or other healthcare settings accounted for 90, and hospitality or entertainment venues accounted for 40.

Boys’ school first in Victoria to mandate vaccinations for staff

Catholic boys’ school Xavier College has told staff they must be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of term four, in what is believed to be the first move by a Victorian school to mandate the jab for its staff.

Xavier principal William Doherty told staff “a duty of care inevitably exists” for those who work closely with children to be vaccinated and said that families and colleagues “should be able to expect every precaution to protect their health and safety”.

Exemptions to the vaccination mandate would only be granted in the most exceptional circumstances, he said.

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday that authorities were undertaking extensive work on classroom ventilation ahead of students returning to face-to-face learning in term four - although a date is yet to be set for their return.

The state’s year 12 students are being prioritised to get their COVID-19 jabs in a vaccination “blitz”, from September 7 through to 17.

“This is all about making sure our senior students who are sitting those year 12 exams have certainty, and have at least one dose as they head into that exam period,” Mr Andrews said on Friday.

“There will also be a number of teaching staff and examiners and people who supervise that activity who will need to be vaccinated, and will be part of that process.”

More than 35,460 people received their COVID-19 vaccine doses in Victoria in the 24 hours to midnight on Friday.

The Department of Health says a positive COVID case visited the Number 1 Fertility clinic on Collins St between 8.00am and 6.30pm on Monday and Tuesday this week.Credit:Justin McManus

Exposure sites grow

Meantime, exposure sites continue to grow across the state, with health authorities identifying two new tier-1 sites on Saturday.

The new sites are Kasr Sweets at Coolaroo and Woolworths at Niddrie Central Shopping Centre, both of which have previously been listed as exposure sites.

Authorities identified 90 new exposure sites across the state on Friday, with multiple tier-1 sites also among them. A construction site on Hancock Street at Southbank was listed as a close contact exposure site, as was the Acquire BPO call centre on St Kilda Road.

Other sites listed on Friday were tier-2 or casual contact, but authorities warned there would be close contacts at some, including at another office complex on St Kilda Road, more office complexes at Canterbury and in the inner-city on Queens Road, and an apartment complex at Coburg.

Share this post