9.45am
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THE close family contacts of a hotel quarantine worker have tested negative for COVID-19, after Victoria reported its first case of community transmission after a 28 day lull.
The case was diagnosed in a hotel quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Melbourne, late on Wednesday.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there were "good, positive early signs", as the people the worker lived with had tested negative, as his other close contacts were traced.
It comes after the state reimplemented caps of 15 on indoor gatherings and mandated mask-wearing in public indoor spaces.
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Mr Andrews said the diagnosis would mean hundreds of people self-isolating at home again.
Fourteen sites in Melbourne have so far been listed as exposure sites, requiring any visitor to isolate immediately, take a COVID-19 test, and isolate for 14 days. A full list is available on the Department of Health website.
Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said the Department of Health was setting up additional testing sites, including in the Melbourne suburbs of Noble Park, Brighton, Monash and the central business district.
Mr Weimar thanked all people who had already stepped forward to get tested, pointing to live information on the Department of Health website about queue lengths.
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Mr Andrews said the hotel quarantine worker infected had been a model of safety protocols. He said there was no definitive answer on how the man was infected, saying Victoria couldn't yet rule out airborne transmission.
Deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng said the infected worker appeared to have a relatively high viral load, which was part of the reason the Department of Health was taking exposure sites so seriously.
Education Minister James Merlino has confirmed that secondary students must wear masks indoors under the new rules, but primary students are not required to do so.
Mr Merlino said teachers are not required to wear masks while teaching, but can if they choose to. He said teachers should wear masks at all other times while indoors.
8.30am
ONE case of community transmitted COVID-19 has been diagnosed in Victoria, two acquired overseas, after a hotel quarantine worker contracted the virus.
The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Victoria is 21.
It remains unknown whether the worker has contracted the new, more infectious strain of COVID-19.
Other news:
Premier Daniel Andrews renewed calls on Wednesday night for anyone with even the slightest symptoms to take a COVID-19 test.
13,675 test results were reported to the Department of Health in the 24-hours to Thursday.
Earlier
VICTORIANS have woken to the reintroduction of compulsory masks indoors and lower gathering limits after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive to COVID-19.
Several sites in south-east Melbourne have been listed as exposure sites, after the worker visited them, including sites in Brighton, Brandon Park, Clayton South and Springvale.
The Department of Health has told anyone who visited the exposure sites they must immediately isolate, take a COVID-19 test, and remain isolated for 14-days.
It remains unknown whether the worker is carrying the new, more infectious strain of COVID-19.
Premier Daniel Andrews reintroduced the rules around masks and gathering limits in a late night press conference on Wednesday.
Household gatherings were limited to 15 people, plus household members, excluding children under 12 months, in effect from 11.59pm Wednesday February 3.
Masks are now mandatory in public indoor spaces, apart from when eating or drinking. The Department of Health has strongly recommended masks for visits to homes.
The 75 per cent return to work cap planned for Monday has been paused, while the 50 per cent cap remains in place.
Mr Andrews urged anyone with any symptoms to get tested for COVID-19, first thing in the morning.
The COVID-19 case was confirmed in a quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel after he developed symptoms and was tested on February 2, returning a positive result late on February 3.
He had previously been tested at the end of his last-worked shift on January 29, returning a negative result.
All Australian Open players, officials and supports staff who were staying at the Grand Hyatt are considered casual contacts, who must immediately isolate and get tested.
Hotel staff are considered primary close contacts, who must immediately isolate, take a COVID-19 test and isolate for 14 days.
A full list of exposure sites is available on the Department of Health website.
With AAP.
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