Melbourne shopping centres on high alert as three new local cases recorded

A number of Melbourne shopping centres have been added to a growing list of exposure sites as Victoria records another three local cases of COVID-19.

More than 32,000 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, with four new cases detected overall in the state, one being an international traveller in hotel quarantine.

There are now 38 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria.

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https://twitter.com/VicGovDHHS/status/1346202928026185730

Concerns are rising for shoppers who attended stores during the times when a positive case shopped at the centres.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been updating health advice for people who attended the locations while a case was present.

People who attended Ikea Springvale on December 30, between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from their visit, alongside more than a dozen other locations.

Westfield Southland has multiple exposure sites, with a confirmed case visiting Mecca, Honey Birdette, Specsavers, Coles, Bodero, Myer and Cotton on December 22.

A positive case also shopped at jeweller Angus and Cootes and Kmart on December 28.

Other stores have also been listed as exposure sites at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, as well as Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston.

9News yesterday reported an employee had tested positive to COVID-19 at Boost Juice at Melbourne's largest shopping centre, Chadstone.

The staff member worked between 6pm and 11pm last Tuesday.

In a statement on its website, Chadstone Shopping Centre said a deep clean of the centre had been undertaken.

"Our team has been notified a person who worked at Boost Juice (outside Bonds) has returned a positive test for COVID-19," the statement read.

Health authorities are advising all shoppers who attended the stores during the dates and times provided to monitor for symptoms.

There are almost 100 exposure sites listed across Victoria.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan yesterday said health teams were working hard to notify people of virus infections as soon as possible.

"The DHHS team, whether they're working on the testing program, the tracing program ... they are working very, very hard around-the-clock so we can provide the best possible information to the Victorian community," she said.

Hope for Victorians stranded in NSW

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he hopes the thousands of Victorians stranded in NSW due to the state's hard border closure will be permitted to return home soon.

More than 2000 applications are still being processed for Victorians seeking to enter the state from NSW.

About 300 requests have been approved for people to cross the border.

Priority has been given to people on medical, emergency and compassionate grounds.

While essential workers do not require formal approval.

Mr Morrison told 3AW's Tony Jones he spoke to Premier Daniel Andrews last night about the issue, but public health directions and border closures were a matter for the states.

"I spoke to the Premier last night and we talked about a number of issues and that was one of them," he said.

"It's for state governments to make their rules on public health.

"I think we are making great progress, so hopefully that means we can restore settings before the outbreak."

Mr Andrews will be speaking with Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton on the situation imminently, sparking fresh hopes the thousands of residents trapped will get the green light to re-enter the state.



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