Overview
Just over a week ago, Melbourne had notched up seven full days without any locally acquired COVID-19 cases. Exactly seven days ago, venue restrictions and mask rules eased. But, as the pandemic keeps proving over and over, a lot can change in a short period at the moment. Once again, Victoria is currently in lockdown, case numbers have been growing and, as always happens with the latter, the list of exposure sites is expanding as well.
At the time of writing — on the morning of Friday, July 16 — the Victorian Department of Health's rundown of exposure sites now lists 125 venues. Yes, that's a big number. Yes, it has been increasingly quickly. And, it has also been demonstrating that it really hasn't been a good week for folks who went to shopping centres and sporting events.
Earlier in the week, both the MCG and the Highpoint Shopping Centre were popped on the list. As of late yesterday, Thursday, July 15, Chadstone Shopping Centre and the Wallabies game at AAMI Park have been named as exposure sites as well. Thankfully, neither are Tier 1 sites, which would've required getting tested immediately and self-isolating for 14 days regardless of the result; however, folks who were at either location at specific times and dates will need to take action.
Regarding Chadstone — which was on the list during the last outbreak, too — the alerts cover Monday, July 12 between 5.25–6pm. If you went to Kmart, Target or Zing Pop Culture during that window of time, you'll now need to get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result, as they're all listed as Tier 2 sites.
For AAMI Park, at the Australia versus France rugby union match on Tuesday, July 13, two different sections have been listed. If you were on level one, in aisles 20–23, from 8.05–10pm, you also need to get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result — as those areas are Tier 2 sites. If you in zone two at all at the same time, you were in a Tier 3 site, which requires monitoring for symptoms.
Obviously, with 125 places now named, the list goes on. It's likely to keep growing, too, given that Victoria reported ten new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours until midnight last night, and the same number in the previous 24 hours as well.
Melburnians can keep an eye on the local list of exposure sites at the Department of Health website — as usual, it will change as more sites are identified.
For those looking to get tested, you can find a list of testing sites including regularly updated waiting times also on the Department of Health website.
And, has remained the case throughout the pandemic, Melburnians should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste, symptoms-wise.
For further details on the latest exposure sites and updated public health advice, see the Department of Health website.
Top image: Gary Houston via Wikimedia Commons.
