Victoria has recorded a positive COVID-19 case from a 15-year-old returned resident who is understood to have acquired the infection in NSW’s Northern Beaches hotspot area while visiting the area with her mother.
The state’s Department of Health and Human Services said investigations into close contacts of the person while in Melbourne were now underway.
“At this stage, there are no exposure sites but if this changes we will provide further updates,” the Department said.
“Anyone who has returned from the northern beaches area, Greater Sydney or the Central Coast needs to get tested and quarantine for 14 days.”
NSW has reported eight new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours to 8pm last night, with the northern beaches cluster now standing at 90.
Victoria’s Health Minister, Martin Foley said the case was a 15-year-old girl from the Moonee Valley local government area in Melbourne’s north-west, who travelled home with her mother late on December 17, and self-isolated on arrival in Victoria.
“My understanding is that the young person had family connections to the northern beaches area and had been exposed to multiple high-risk exposure sites,” Mr Foley said.
“The Avalon RSL, the Avalon Bowling Club, the fish and chip shop that was listed. Quite a range.”
The girl was tested on December 20. The Department says her mother’s initial test returned a negative result.
“All close contacts of the family have been interviewed and the Department of Health is following up with any secondary close contacts,” Mr Foley said.
“Rapid response testing for all of those close contacts is underway.
“All close contacts will be compulsorily quarantining for 14 days and will retest on day 11.
“Given the family were isolating at home, at this point, there are no known exposure sites in Victoria.”
Testing commander, Jeroen Weimar said the girl and her family had done “absolutely the right thing” in line with the state’s COVID-19 protocols.
“For the family that’s at the centre of this, this is a distressing and complex thing for them to live with, to deal with,” he said.
“We need to treat this with respect and with integrity, and ensure that we will provide every single support to that family so they can isolate safely. That is our job.”
