By Alesha Capone
UPDATE: Victoria will go into a seven-day lockdown from 8pm tonight.
Premier Daniel Andrews has just announced the news, which will see the five reasons to leave home re-implemented.
Earlier today, seven new COVID-19 cases, including three linked to the Al-Taqwa College teacher who tested positive earlier this week and an unlinked Maribyrnong case, were announced.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Health Minister Martin Foley said a male household contact of the teacher from Al-Taqwa College in Truganina has tested positive for the virus.
The man works in Caroline Springs and Mr Foley said health authorities are awaiting the test results of his workmates.
Two household contacts of the Al-Taqwa teacher and her partner, who live in Hobsons Bay, have also tested positive for the virus.
Mr Foley said the household contacts live “nearby” to the Al-Taqwa teacher and her partner.
One of the cases unknowingly worked while infected at a site in Spotswood.
Mr Foley said anyone who visited Al-Taqwa College on July 28, 29 or 30, and August 2, 3 or 4, must isolate and get tested for COVID-19 until further notice.
A third COVID case has been identified as a man, aged in his twenties, who lives in the Maribrynong municipality and who works at a Derrimut warehouse.
Mr Foley said the source of his infection is unknown, with genomic sequencing investigation underway.
The man’s flatmate is also being tested for the virus.
The state’s three other new cases have been linked to a traffic controller who was diagnosed with the virus around a week ago, after working at a Moonee Valley testing site.
There are 80 active cases of COVID-19 across the state, including seven people who are in hospital, with two of these patients in intensive care on ventilators.
COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said he expects more COVID-19 exposure sites would be added to the state’s list in the coming days.
Mr Weimar said 2494 people from Al-Taqwas, including staff and students, have been asked to get tested and isolate.
He said the test results of 300 students “closely associated” with the teacher, who has tested positive, would be prioritised.
Mr Foley said that authorities expected to “very quickly” pass 5000 to 10,000 close contacts for Al-Taqwa “in hours, if not days”.
Mr Weimar said authorities were also working with other schools whose students may have played at recent sports event, which Al-Tawqa students are believed to have attended.
Mr Weimar said a new COVID testing site has been set up at Al-Taqwa College for the school community to use, and that 13 COVID-19 testing sites across the west have increased their operating hours.
“We are urgently testing people, particularly who are linked to the three unknown cases,” Mr Weimar said.
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who is head of the Altona North Respiratory Clinic, said the site conducted the initial test led to the Al-Taqwa teacher being diagnosed with COVID, two days ago.
“My initial thought was, ‘Here we go again’,” Dr Haikerwal said.
“In fact, it’s a much different situation.
“We are now actually in a much better position because vaccines are available”
Dr Haikerwal said his Altona North clinic expected to vaccinate around 1200 people by the end of this week.
He said the population of the west, particularly Hobsons Bay, “did it very tough” during last year’s pandemic.
“They felt very badly treated and that’s why many didn’t get tested,” he said.
But Dr Haikerwal said it was important as many people as possible get vaccinated.
“That’s our way out of jail,” he said.
Dr Haikerwal said COVID-19 was a disease anyone could catch.
“This is not a Hobsons Bay issue, it is not a western suburbs issue, it’s not a Victorian issue, it’s an Australian issue and an international issue,” he said.
The Western Region Football League has also released a statement, stating that a player from the Newport Football Club seniors – the partner of the Al-Taqwa teacher – reportedly tested positive to COVID-19 yesterday.
The player participated in a match against West Footscray at Shorten Reserve in West Footscray on Saturday afternoon.
“The player began to feel unwell this week and did not attend club training on Tuesday, and was confirmed as having COVID-19 on Wednesday,” the statement said.
“On learning of the positive case, Newport Football Club immediately advised all players & officials to get tested and isolate until further notice.
“The matter is in the hands of the DHHS, and the WRFL in conjunction with AFL Victoria will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
The Poultry Palace at 74 Pipe Road, Laverton North has been named as a tier one exposure site on August 2, between 10.30-11.20am, after someone with the virus attended the venue.
A number of new COVID exposure sites in Newport, Altona North and Caroline Springs have also been listed at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
