Staff writers
LATROBE City recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours up to midnight.
Professor Ben Cowie confirmed the news in this morning’s press briefing.
“There are 15 new cases in Latrobe with the majority linked to existing known cases,” Professor Cowie said.
That lifts the tally of active COVID-19 cases in Latrobe City to 89.
Morwell Park Primary School this morning revealed a confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported.
The school said in a statement that it is closed to all students, staff and community members until further notice.
“While the Department of Health conducts its investigation, staff and students who were onsite on Monday, October 4 should stay home and limit their movements until advised otherwise,” the school said.
Gippsland Region Public Health Unit confirmed tonight that the school was a Tier 1 exposure site on Monday, October 4 from 9am-3.15pm.
It is the second Tier 1 exposure site to emerge in the period after last week’s snap lockdown was introduced following Churchill’s Chemist Discount Centre (Wednesday, September 29 from 10am-5.30pm).
Professor Cowie was non-committal when questioned on whether lockdown measures would be reintroduced in Latrobe City as a result of today’s latest COVID-19 numbers.
“It is fair to say we are seeing increasing numbers in regional Victoria,” he said.
“Latrobe was a particular concern (last week), I think it was a circuit-breaker and allowed the local public health unit time to get their responses in order.
“Extended lockdowns in regional areas are becoming increasingly rare and the message is for people to get vaccinated now.”
GRPHU said anyone who has been at a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed need to isolate and get tested, and remain in quarantine for 14 days regardless of your result.
