Victoria’s biggest rise in virus cases in two weeks
Victorians are facing an important week ahead that will decide if the state follows others in easing restrictions after next weekend.
With Victoria’s state of alarm set to end on May 11, the state has been under increasing pressure to relax its measures, especially regarding the return of students to schools.
Victoria recorded 22 new cases yesterday – the biggest in the last two weeks.
Authorities believe the spike is because of the meat works cluster and the outbreak in a Victorian school.
Premier Daniel Andrew’s cabinet has firmly held its position on keeping Victoria partially locked down.
Whether this changes will heavily depend on how the fight against the pandemic moves forward this week.
The state’s testing blitz that aims to complete 100,000 tests before May 11 will help in making that decision.
According to Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, the more people were tested, the more the health department could know about the virus and how it spreads in the community.
Anyone displaying even mild symptoms of coronavirus has been urged to get tested.
The increase in cases brings Victoria’s total to 1393.
Six of those cases are linked to an outbreak at a meat processing plant that was not named.
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said this meat processing plant should be treated the same way schools and hospitals are.
One of the positive cases was a Victorian teacher at Meadow Glen primary school in Epping.
The Melbourne north school will be closed from Monday to Wednesday.
“The school will be closed for three days so health teams can carry out full contact tracing and we can give the entire place a thorough clean,” Premier Andrews said.
“To all the teachers and school staff out there, my heartfelt thanks. Please know that in Victoria, you will always be valued. You will always be listened to.”