Gregor Mactaggart
LATROBE City’s COVID-19 outbreak has grown to 21 cases.
That figure represents 15 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) announced four Tier 1 exposure sites this afternoon as well as three additional cases.
The Tier 1 exposure sites are as follows:
Repco, Morwell
Thursday, September 23, 8am-12.30pm
Repco, Traralgon
Monday, September 20, 7am-5.30pm.
Tuesday, September 21, 7am-5.30pm
Wednesday, September 22, 7am-5.30pm
A GRPHU spokesperson said anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure regardless of the result.
There are also two new Tier 2 exposure sites.
They are as follows:
Bunnings Warehouse, Traralgon
Friday, September 24, 1.00pm–2.00pm
EARLIER TODAY
TWELVE new COVID-19 positive cases in Latrobe City have been announced today by the Department of Health deputy secretary Kate Matson.
Ten are in the 3844 postcode (Traralgon and district) and the other two are in the 3840 postcode (Morwell and district).
They feature among 28 new cases in regional Victoria during the past 24 hours.
“There are 12 new cases in the Latrobe Valley,” Ms Matson said.
“It means there are now 16 active cases across three households in Moe, Morwell and Traralgon.
“A number of these cases were in the community during their infectious period and we are aware of a household gathering over the weekend.
“Please, if you are in any of these areas – Moe, Morwell and Traralgon – be on high alert.”
It is not known how many the cases are linked to the said gathering.
There are currently 18 active cases in Latrobe City.
Increasing testing capacity has been committed to the Latrobe City region, with rapid response testing deployed to the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium in Traralgon.
Health Minister Martin Foley was quizzed on whether Latrobe City would be subject to a lockdown, similar to what has applied in regional towns such as Shepparton and Ballarat.
“There is no announcement today, but if that situation changes we’ll let the people of the Latrobe Valley know,” he said.
“It’s very serious, it’s been a part of Victoria that has been very well protected.
“There is increased testing going on with the Latrobe Health Unit working in the communities of Moe, Morwell and Traralgon.”
Mr Foley said the news of the social gathering was “regrettable”.
“(It was a) social gathering of a number of households and that’s regrettable,” he said.
“As we have said on many occasions, people don’t think it applies to them, it only takes one case with this highly infectious Delta vairant, for these type of outbreaks to occur.”
The current list of Tier 2 exposure sites is as follows:
Montague Pharmacy, Rintoull St, Morwell
Wednesday, September 22, 2.30pm-3pm
Kmart, Traralgon Centre Plaza
Tuesday, September 21, 10am-10.35am
Thursday, September 16, 2.05pm-2.20pm
Wednesday, September 15, 2.40pm-3.15pm
Coles, Traralgon Centre Plaza
Tuesday, September 21, 10.20am-10.45am
Thursday, September 16, 2.20pm-2.45pm
Wednesday, September 15, 2.50pm-3.20pm
Bunnings Warehouse, Morwell
Tuesday, September 21, 5.10pm-5.35pm
Tyre Service, Traralgon Centre Plaza
Tuesday, September 21, 9.30am-9.55am and 11.15am-11.45am
Coles, Moe
Wednesday, September 22, 6.30pm-7.05pm
Dear Delilah Florist, Morwell
Wednesday, September 22, 2pm-2.30pm and 4pm-4.30pm
Shell Service Station, Traralgon
Tuesday, September 21, 11.30am-12pm
Coles, Morwell
Wednesday, September 22, 9.30am-10am
Woolworths, Mid Valley Shopping Centre, Morwell
Wednesday, September 22, 10.10am-10.40am
Bunnings Warehouse, Traralgon
Wednesday, September 15, 5.25pm-6.50pm
Cotton On, Traralgon Centre Plaza
Tuesday, September 21, 9.45am-11.30am
QBD Books, Traralgon Centre Plaza
Tuesday, September 21, 11am-11.30am
Officeworks, Traralgon
Wednesday, September 15, 7am-8.30am
Cooinda Hill Opportunity Shop, Traralgon
Thursday, September 16, 1.30pm-2pm
REGIONAL CASES TODAY
12 Latrobe City, 5 Mitchell Shire, 2 Baw Baw, 2 Geelong, 2 Shepparton, 1 Corangamite, 1 Warrnambool, 1 Horsham, 1 Gannawarra, 1 Macedon Ranges.
