10 new COVID-19 cases in Vic, expanded testing in Ballarat

VICTORIA has reported ten new cases of COVID-19 community transmission overnight, as thousands have cut short their NSW holidays in a mad dash to get home ahead of borders shutting last night.

The 10 new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday are all linked to the Black Rock restaurant cluster, with an additional two cases that had travelled to NSW and returned to quarantine in Victoria.

The Victorian outbreak has been directly linked to the NSW cluster revealed in genetic testing results on Saturday.

Health Minister Martin Foley made no apologies for closing the border to its neighbouring state and said it was based on public health advice.

He said it has caused widespread disruption for returning travellers and will continue to do so for the border communities.

“I acknowledge the significant disruption and the significant implications that that has made,” Mr Foley said on Saturday.

He said it had become a significant issue for Victoria with 29 active cases now in isolation across the state.

The southern state’s border decision on Thursday prompted traffic bottlenecks as people raced to beat the Friday midnight closure.

Once in Victoria, COVID-19 testing sites saw long queues as travellers lined up for mandatory testing.

Meanwhile Ballarat Health Services has announced the reopening of the Little Bridge Street testing site, as well as extended hours at the UFS Respiratory Clinic in Errard Street North, to help with the increase in people requiring COVID-19 tests as they return from NSW.

“We are prepared and well-resourced to manage re-emergence of the virus in the Ballarat Community should that occur, and we always have our Rapid Response Testing Team on stand-by, ready to respond to increased testing demand,” said Craig Wilding, BHS acting CEO and executive director primary and community care.

Both sites are open this Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm and require a booking before attendance.

Bookings can be made on ufs.com.au/coronavirus/covid-19-testing-clinic.

BHS has also adjusted the protocols around visitation to all its sites, including the Base Hospital and senior’s homes.

Visit bhs.org.au/news-and-events/covid-19-information/visitor-and-building-access-restrictions.

Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have all further hardened their borders as a result of fresh cases in recent days.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he respects the decisions of state and territory leaders to shut their borders but understands why people have been left frustrated.

The Federal Government had aimed for Australia to be fully open by Christmas, a plan dashed by the COVID-19 outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches.

-With AAP