Victoria has recorded five new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, including two unlinked cases, as health authorities work to track the source of a highly infectious strain in the community.
The new cases were detected from 36,362 test results returned on Friday.
One further infection was recorded in hotel quarantine.
Victoria’s five new local cases reported today include three primary close contacts of existing cases and two cases from the same household, authorities have revealed.
Meanwhile Police tactics ensured planned protests at three Melbourne vaccination hubs were foiled.
Multiple protesters at a rally for small business have been handcuffed outside Flinders St station on Saturday morning before being released
VACCINE BLITZ
The Victorian Government is doubling down on its successful vaccine blitz to help turbo charge the Federal Government’s vaccine rollout– expanding it to include our hard-working paramedics.
With more than 10,000 doses delivered to Victoria’s aged care and disability workforce through our dedicated vaccination lanes since the blitz began, it’s clear that providing priority access for vaccinations has meant our frontline health workforce is getting vaccinated faster.
The Victorian Government will now extend the aged care and disability workforce blitz until Monday 7 June to allow even more Victorians working in high-risk settings, particularly those in private aged care – to get vaccinated with ease.
Outbreaks across Australia have shown how fast coronavirus can spread across these sensitive settings.
Importantly, priority access will also be given to Ambulance Victoria staff from Wednesday 9 June until Sunday 13 June.
Ambulance Victoria staff are often involved in the transport of potential COVID patients and spend time in emergency departments – vaccinating them swiftly will help community safe.
Staff are eligible for either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines depending on their age. Priority access will be ensured by active queue management. The vaccination centres participating in the Ambulance Victoria blitz will be confirmed soon.
Ambulance Victoria, aged care and disability workers are already eligible to be vaccinated at state hubs and can continue to attend at any time during opening hours. Priority access will ensure they can be vaccinated quickly during peak periods and do not need to book in advance.
Minister for Health Martin Foley said: “Victorians have come out in force to get vaccinated – now we’re stepping in to make sure even more aged care and disability workers can access our blitz that has already vaccinated so many workers.Giving priority access to our hard-working Ambulance Victoria staff, who deal with some of the sickest Victorians, will help protect them as well as our most vulnerable.”
