Victoria has recorded no new local coronavirus cases as thousands of people turned out to get tested after another hotel quarantine worker tested positive.
The health department said 12,816 Victorians were swabbed at testing stations across the state on Monday, with no locally acquired cases reported in the past 24 hours.
The health department also confirmed no new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine in the past 24 hours on Tuesday morning.
There are 15 active cases in Victoria, down from 20 on Monday, with 13 active infections in hotel quarantine and two locally acquired cases.
The rush to get tested came after another hotel quarantine worker – a woman based at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport – returned a positive result on Sunday.
About 80 hotel quarantine workers at the Holiday Inn have been identified as primary close contacts and have been told to isolate and get tested.
A number of potential public exposure sites have also been identified in Melbourne’s northwest suburbs with anyone who has visited the “tier 1” sites during the times listed required to immediately isolate, get tested and remain isolated for 14 days from the time they were at the site.
The health department said 17 people with direct contact with the woman have been identified as social and household primary close contacts.
Health authorities warned the number was likely to increase as investigations continued.
Testing capacity near exposure sites in Melbourne’s northwest is also being enhanced.
It comes after another hotel quarantine worker – a 26-year-old man from Noble Park based at the Australian Open quarantine program – also returned a positive COVID-19 test result last Wednesday.
The health department said more than 61,000 Victorians had been tested since Thursday morning.
Health and Fitness | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site