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Victoria has confirmed a further 22 cases of coronavirus, including 19 linked to a cluster of cases at a Melbourne meat processing plant.
Key points:
- Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has defended the decision not to name the meatworks
- He said the outbreak was "not a risk to the general community and it's not going to get out of control"
- Victoria tested a record 13,000 people for coronavirus yesterday, meaning the state is on track to meet its goal of 100,000 tests by the end of this week
It brings the state's total number of coronavirus cases to 1,406 and the number of cases in the abattoir cluster to 34.
Aside from the cases linked to the abattoir, two of the new cases were returned overseas travellers who were quarantined in hotels.
One other case is still under investigation.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton defended his decision not to name the meatworks, saying this was "not part of what's required for us to do our work".
"If community members need to be told ... we'll do so," he said.
The Government has previously named health facilities and schools where outbreaks have occurred.
Professor Sutton said that was because schools were places "where a lot of community members might go, where we can't identify those individuals for the purpose of contract tracing".
"They are named for that reason," he said.
Melbourne radio station 3AW has published a statement attributed to Cedar Meats general manager Tony Kairouz in which he identifies his business in Melbourne's west as the abattoir involved.
"All workers are self-quarantining and we are working closely with the Victorian health authorities," the statement said.
"All meat processed at our facilities is processed in accordance with Australian Standards for food safety and our customers can be confident that the meat processed at our facilities is safe to eat."
When contacted by the ABC, the company declined to confirm the information.
When asked at this morning's press conference whether Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz had any family ties to the business, Premier Daniel Andrews said it was his understanding that she did not, with Kairouz being a relatively common surname in the Lebanese community.
Professor Sutton said the testing of staff at the meatworks had been "appropriate" and it had not been possible to shut the meatworks down when the first case was identified.
"As soon as that cluster was identified ... they moved to a shutdown at the earliest possible time but there were logistical constraints about having everyone cease work immediately," he said.
"There were animal welfare issues with the business, so you need minimum staff on site to make sure animal welfare is looked after."
Professor Sutton said meatworks factories were "particularly vulnerable" to coronavirus outbreaks and there had been large outbreaks in similar facilities in the US.
He said staff were forced to work closer together than in some other workplaces.
But he said most of the 19 individuals who tested positive yesterday were asymptomatic.
"It's not a risk to the general community and it's not going to get out of control," he said.
Record day of testing
Mr Andrews said a record 13,000 Victorians were tested for coronavirus yesterday.
"More than we've seen on a single day in any part of the country throughout this whole pandemic," he said.
"I can't emphasise enough how pleased, how proud and how grateful I am."
The Government is aiming to test 100,000 Victorians to gather data to help them decide whether to lift some restrictions when the current State of Emergency ends on May 11.
Mr Andrews said 56,000 people had already been tested since the blitz began one week ago.
"It's a massive effort," he said.
"Let's see what kind of virus story that tells."
The results of yesterday's tests would not be known for a couple of days, he said.
Mr Andrews thanked those Victorians who had given up their time to get tested, and reiterated that mobile testing units would come to people who could not travel to a testing site.
He said the more data the Government could collect now, the more "options" it would have when it came to relaxing restrictions.
"If you have not been tested and you have even the mildest of symptoms, please get tested," he said.
There are now 90 testing sites across Victoria.
Elimination could be 'happy accident', CHO says
Professor Sutton said it was up to the National Cabinet to decide whether Australia should pursue elimination or suppression as a goal for dealing with the virus.
"My understanding is we are on a suppression strategy nationally but elimination is still in scope," he said.
"If we happen to have a happy accident of elimination then we'll be able to have that as an ongoing strategy."
He said suppression meant low-level transmission across the country, whereas elimination required "an absolute assurance of no transmission whatsoever".
"It also requires you don't have any importation of any single case," he said.
"That's a really significant constraint and it means you have to have a different approach to borders, but it's not my call, it's for National Cabinet."
Professor Sutton was asked whether it was likely AFL teams would be able to train next week as the league looks to salvage some of the 2020 season.
"There's the potential for that, absolutely," Professor Sutton said.
Victoria's State of Emergency is due to expire next Monday, meaning a possible relaxation of some restrictions.
The AFL has ruled out allowing interstate teams to train in groups of 10, until all states have the same social-distancing rules in place, prompting allegations of bias towards Victorian teams.
Fight over schools 'ancient history'
Mr Andrews said he had not spoken to anyone from the Federal Government over the weekend after Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan criticised Mr Andrews for not reopening schools.
Mr Tehan yesterday accused Daniel Andrews of taking a "sledgehammer" to the state's education sector, before later admitting he overstepped the mark.
Mr Andrews said he was "not particularly worried" about Mr Tehan's comments.
"That's ancient history as far as I'm concerned," he said.
"Fighting amongst ourselves is not what's needed — fighting this virus is what's needed."
Mr Andrews said he was due to speak with the Prime Minister at tomorrow's National Cabinet meeting.
"Comments were made yesterday morning, a statement was issued after that. That's the end of the matter as far as I'm concerned," Mr Andrews said.
Partygoer jumps fence in failed bid to escape fine
Victoria Police issued another 44 fines in the 24 hours to 11pm Sunday, as groups continued to gather in breach of coronavirus physical-distancing restrictions.
Five people were fined after police found them drinking together when responding to a noise complaint and another five were fined after being found in a car in Parkville while returning from a friend's house.
At another house party, police issued multiple fines including to a person who attempted to run from police by jumping the property's back fence.
