Victoria has recorded three new cases of coronavirus, two of them locally-acquired, as the state enters the second day of its five-day snap lockdown to try and get on top of the latest outbreak.
Yesterday there were 3 new cases reported – 2 local, 1 in hotel quarantine. 21,475 test results were received. Got symptoms? Get tested, #EveryTestHelps.
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/JUbCZSf2f4
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) February 13, 2021
No further details are known about the two locally-acquired cases at this stage, however, the Department of Health and Human Services has listed four new exposure sites.
These include a swimming pool and aquatic centre in Pascoe Vale, and a bakery and Woolworths supermarket in Broadmeadows.
A full list of current exposure sites in Victoria can be found here. This brings the total number of active cases in the state to 22.
4 new locations have been added to our list of Tier 1 exposure sites following further investigation by our public health team.
Monday 8th February
– Elite Swimming, Pascoe Vale – 5pm – 6pm pic.twitter.com/K9J4jaJ7Xo— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) February 13, 2021
Anyone who visited these locations must isolate, test and remain isolated for 14 days.
For a full list of exposure sites and locations where you can get a #COVID19 test, visit: https://t.co/Q81LWfynQE #COVID19Vic— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) February 13, 2021
The current coronavirus outbreak originated at the airport Holiday Inn quarantine facility, and there were reports that the virus spread to a staffer and a fellow guest when an infected traveller used a nebuliser device in his room.
Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth weighed in on the danger of nebulisers, saying hospitals around the country stopped using them in emergency departments at the start of the pandemic.
Let’s be absolutely clear. Hospitals around Australia stopped using nebulisers in emergency departments at the start of the pandemic. To claim the recent hotel quarantine incident is ‘novel evidence of aerosol transmission’ is, quite literally, fake news.
— Dr. Nick Coatsworth (@nick_coatsworth) February 13, 2021
The device has become a topic of heated debate in Victoria, with the man in question saying that he was given permission to use the device, and health authorities insisting they did not know about it.
Emma Cassar, the head of COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, says there is “no evidence” that the 38-year-old man raised the issue of the nebuliser with quarantine hotel staff, adding:
“He’s not lying, we are not making those accusations. No one is going to win from this argument where we are constantly having a battle on these matters, which are so private for somebody.”
