By Brendan Rees
The number of reported cases of Covid-19 has begun to slow across the south east, according to the state’s latest health data.
As of 12 May figures, cases remain at 56 in Casey, 15 in Dandenong and 16 in Cardinia council areas.
However, Casey City only has one active case – a new figure recently introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services which defines someone who has tested positive, is currently in isolation and being monitored by the Department and who has not yet recovered. Dandenong has zero active cases while Cardinia has two.
Across the state, there were 17 new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 12 May, bringing the state’s tally to 1509, including 18 deaths and four currently in intensive-care.
Of the total, 1376 people have recovered.
More than 258,000 tests have been taken to date, and many more swabs are still being processed as part of Victoria’s testing blitz.
Fifteen laboratories are now analysing swabs – three public reference laboratories, nine public hospital laboratories and three private providers.
Eight of the new confirmed cases are linked to a Melbourne meat processing facility – six staff and two close contacts – taking the total number of cases in this cluster to 85.
The department is working closely with the company, which agreed to close their facility for 14 days as a precaution to ensure all required steps are taken – including thorough contact tracing, identifying all close contacts, widespread testing and precautionary cleaning.
A new case in a staff member at the McDonald’s Restaurant in Fawkner has also been confirmed, taking the total number of cases in that cluster to three.
Ninety-two employees have been tested as a precaution. McDonald’s closed the restaurant to undertake a deep clean. The restaurant will re-open with staff from other stores. All close contacts of confirmed cases have been contacted by the department and will remain in quarantine for 14 days.
The remaining new cases are under investigation.
Meanwhile, the State Government has established “new rapid response teams” to stamp out outbreaks as part of a major coronavirus surveillance boost.
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos today announced $20 million for a range of measures that will continue beyond the recent testing blitz.
A new ‘outbreak unit’ within the Department of Health and Human Services’ public health team will include new rapid response outbreak squads, staffed by public health specialists and clinicians to ensure appropriate testing, contact tracing and deep cleaning is carried out as soon as a cluster is identified.
The squads will also make proactive visits to high risk facilities, businesses and industries, and work with local services on infection control and prevention, while also stepping in to quickly manage any high-risk cases should they occur.
