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21 JULY, 2021
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Lockdown extended By Alesha Capone Seven residents living within the 3030 postcode of Point Cook, Werribee and Werribee South have contracted COVID-19 in the past week, as concerns about community transmission prompted the state’s fifth lockdown to be extended. The state government announced yesterday that the lockdown would be extended until midnight on Tuesday, July 27, to help run Victoria’s Delta outbreak “to the ground”. Thirteen new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were recorded yesterday, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 85. Eighteen thousand primary close contacts of those cases had been identified, Victoria’s COVID commander Jeroen Weimar said. Fourteen cases have been linked to the MCG, including nine who attended the Carlton-Geelong match on Saturday, July 10. The 3029 postcode, which covers Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina, recorded one case last week. There are no recorded cases in Wyndham’s other postcodes. However, several Wyndham locations have been named as COVID-19 exposure sites. Coles Sanctuary Lakes and Sanctuary Lakes Charcoal Chicken & Salad Bar were identified as tier one sites on July 14, while the Sanctuary Lakes Hotel and QuickFit Health Club in Point Cook were both tier one sites on July 13. The Jamieson Way Community Health Centre public toilets were listed as a tier two site on July 14, after a person with COVID-19 used them. Persist Fitness in Werribee was also named a tier one exposure site on July 12, 13 and 14. Gym owner Josh Pigdon said that it came “out of the blue” when the health department contacted him to say that a person with COVID-19 had attended the gym last week. Mr Pigdon said he and two other trainers had been advised to isolate for 14 days, although they tested negative to the illness. “We’re pretty diligent with all the cleaning, making sure everyone signs in with the QR codes and everything like that,” he said. Mr Pigdon said he sent messages to staff and everyone who had been at the gym to inform them of the development. “You just have to do the right thing,” he said.
Clockswise from top: Cars line up at the COVID-19 testing site at Victoria University, Hoppers Lane, on Monday; The VU testing site; The Santuary Lakes Hotel was listed as a tier one site; The Jamieson Way Community Health Centre public toilets were listed as a tier two exposure site on July 14. (Pictures: Joe Mastroianni) 244144, 244143
Mr Pigdon said he hoped the gym would not be affected too much by the latest lockdown. Announcing the extended lockdown yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews said there would be no further as-of-right red zone travel for two weeks except for compassionate exemptions and authorised workers. “The trend is good but we need more time to be absolutely certain that all that we’ve given and all that we’ve done has been successful,” he
said. “There’s very little margin for error in this. “Leaving it smouldering, this Delta variant, leaving it with a handful of cases even, really does mean that you almost certainly will have a further outbreak, further lockdowns and potentially finish up in a situation where you’re locked down, not for days, but you’re locked down for months.” The five reasons to leave home will remain
in place: Getting food and supplies, exercising for up to two hours, care or caregiving, work or education if you can’t do it from home, and to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location. Shopping and exercise must be done within five kilometres of your home or the nearest location. ■ More
COVID-19 stories: Pages 6-7
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