Footage from Melbourne coronavirus testing sites showed long queues, while others report having been turned away from some sites.

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley said that “the most important thing we can do” to battle the outbreak in the state was to get returned travellers tested. There are currently 37 active cases in Victoria with 3 new locally acquired cases announced on Monday morning as well as a case from an international arrival.

Victorian health authorities hope to have the state’s COVID-19 cases drop to zero again by the weekend, but more testing is needed to achieve this. On Sunday, DHHS COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar advised people to prepare for a long wait and encouraged people to bring plenty of water and materials to keep themselves occupied.

Meanwhile, the list of exposure sites is growing with people urged to get tested immediately if they have visited any if the sites below and to ensure they quarantine for 14 days from the exposure:

Black Rock Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant, 21/12/20, 6:30pm-9:40pm (site of the initial exposure which lead to super spreader incident)
Brighton Royal Brighton Yacht Club – outdoor dining, 29/12/20, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Doveton Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic, 26/12/20, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Glen Waverley Village Century City, 28/12/20, 2:45pm-5:30pm
Mordialloc Woodlands Golf Club – clubhouse bar, 23/12/20 12:30pm-1:30pm and 28/12/20 4:40pm-5:15pm

Visitors to the following locations should get tested immediately and quarantine until receiving a negative result:

Albert Park The Guilty Moose Cafe, 30/12/20 1pm-1:30pm
Bairnsdale V/Line train – Bairnsdale to Melbourne, 30/12/20, 12:45pm-4:30pm
Brighton Sons of Mary Restaurant, 24/12/20, 10:00am-11:05am
Camberwell Crown Nails, 30/12/20, 1:30pm-2:30pm
Camberwell Tao Dumplings, 30/12/20, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Caulfield Metro Train – Frankston line, 30/12/20, 4:30pm-17:00pm
Doveton Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic, 26/12/20, 6:30pm
Lakes Entrance Albert and Co. Cafe – Bellevue Hotel, 29/12/20, 09:30am-10:45am
Lakes Entrance Chants Summer Carnival – Footbridge, 29/12/20, 7:00pm-9:30pm
Lakes Entrance Esplanade Resort Lakes Entrance – Pool area, 29/12/20, 05:30pm-05:50pm
Lakes Entrance Esplanade Resort Lakes Entrance – Hotel bar, 29/12/20, 05:30pm-05:50pm
Lakes Entrance The Esplanade Resort and Spa, 29/12/20, 2:30pm-5:50pm
Lakes Entrance Lakes Boat Shed Cafe, 30/12/20, 9:30am-10:30am
Lakes Entrance V/Line bus – Lakes Entrance to Bairnsdale, 30/12/20, 11:55am-12:30pm
Lakes Entrance Wyanga Winery, 29/12/20, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Leongatha Coral Fish and Chips, 26/12/20, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Leongatha Coral Fish and Chips, 27/12/20, 4:00pm-7:30pm
Melbourne European Bier Cafe City, 28/12/20, 8:00pm-9:30pm
Melbourne Fonda Mexican Flinders Lane, 29/12/20, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Oakleigh Melissa Oakleigh Restaurant, 28/12/20, 7:30pm-8:15pm
Southbank Left Bank Melbourne Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, 25/12/20, 12:00pm-02:30pm
Southbank Rockpool Bar and Grill, Crown Casino, 23/12/20, 8:00pm-10:00pm

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Get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result if you have symptoms after visiting the areas below:

Box Hill South Bunnings, 30/12/20, 12:00pm-12:40pm
Black Rock Woolworths Metro, 30/12/20, 5:30pm-5:55pm
Camberwell Fu Lin Asian Grocery Supermarket, 30/12/20, 2:30pm-2:45pm
Cape Schank National Golf Club, 30/12/20, 11.40am-1.40pm
Cheltenham Aldi Cheltenham, 29/12/20, 2:00pm-2:30pm
Forest Hill Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, 28/12/20, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Fountain Gate Shopping Centre Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, Lo Costa, 26/12/20, 9:00am-11:00am
Glen Waverley Mocha Jo’s, 28/12/20, 1:30pm-1:45pm
Hallam Coles Hallam, 30/12/20, 6:15am-6:30am
Lakes Entrance Blue Riviera Hire Boats, 29/12/20, 11:15am-12:15pm
Lakes Entrance Darcey Annas Beach Cafe Kiosk Gift Shop Gallery, 30/12/20, 11:15am-11:20am
Lakes Entrance Central Hotel Lakes Entrance, 30/12/20, 5:00pm-6:30pm
Lakes Entrance Woolworths Lakes Entrance, 30/12/20, 6:00pm-6:15pm
Mentone Mentone/Parkdale Beach, 27/12/20, 10:00am-4:30pm
Mentone Bunnings Mentone, 29/12/20, 07:30am-08:00am
Mentone Bunnings Mentone, 31/12/20, 08:00am-08:30am
Moorabbin COSTCO, Moorabbin Airport, 30/12/20, 10:45am- 12:15pm
Mount Waverley Ritchies IGA, 30/12/20, 2:00pm-2:30pm
Mordialloc Woodlands Golf Club, 23/12/20, 8:00am-2:00pm
Mordialloc Woodlands Golf Club, 28/12/20, 12:00pm-6:00pm
Oakleigh Bunnings Oakleigh, 30/12/20, 11:00am-11:30am
Oakleigh Katialo restaurant, 28/12/20, 7:00pm-7:10pm
Wonthaggi Plaza Shopping centre, 28/12/20, 1:30pm-2.30pm

 

People in NSW wishing to travel to Victoria are being turned away at the border and can only enter the state with a special exemption. Those wishing to enter the state should contact the DHHS helpline or website for an exemption application process which would take 24-48 hours to be reviewed. Exemptions are also required for travellers heading to Victoria from other states but who had travelled through NSW.

Border regions are also exempt from the border closure.

Queensland authorities have urged residents not to travel to Victoria or NSW, with many Queenslanders rushing to return to the state as flights surged to the $1,000-mark on Sunday but somewhat subsided after Queensland’s Premier Anastasia Paluszek said the situation would be monitored before border closures are announced.

Western Australia was quick to strengthen border controls with Victoria on Friday soon after COVID-19 cases crossed over from NSW.