COVID-19 wastewater detections, V/Line worker tests positive

VICTORIA has recorded one death and three-hundred-and-thirty-four new COVID-19 cases as most regional areas of the state wake up to their first full day out of lockdown.

The new cases were discovered from almost 43,000 tests, while just over 39,000 doses of a vaccine were administered.

Two unexpected COVID-19 wastewater detections were recorded in Ballarat on 30 August and 8 September.

Ballarat Health CEO Dale Fraser said a wastewater detection could come from anyone traveling through the area.

“Any time there’s a positive [detection] we are concerned, we want to make sure we do everything to protect our community,” Mr Fraser said.

“It could be anybody traveling through town. It’s not necessarily a person from Melbourne coming up. The highway is still open to truckdrivers.

“That’s why they monitor the water quality very closely and then make sure if there’s repeated spikes, or spikes of a certain grade, that then escalates a response.

“Any time there’s a spike, like the ACU case over the weekend, we go into an action plan.”

There’s also changes to V/Line services across the state after a worker tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement released today, V/Line said other workers are now isolating and coaches will replace trains on many lines.

“After a positive covid test amongst the workforce, health advice requires a number of drivers to isolate,” the statement said.

“Due to the amount of drivers impacted, several V/Line services are unable to operate to a normal timetable today.

“Coaches will replace all trains on the Warnambool, Swan Hill and Bairnsdale lines for part of the journey.

“Coaches will replace trains on the Albury line for the entire journey.

“Coaches are already replacing Seymour and Shepparton services for the entire journey and Echuca trains between Echuca and Bendigo due to planned infrastructure works.

“On other lines, select trains will run, supported by coaches to shuttle passengers between regions and outer metropolitan stations to connect with Metro Train Services.

“In some cases the fastest option for passengers will be to wait and catch the next available train service.”