05/01/2021
Coronavirus Victoria: Melbourneâs Black Rock cluster linked to 12 diners, spread across 14 households
A COVID-19 cluster that snapped Melbourneâs 61-day virus-free streak has been linked to a group of 12 who dined out at a Thai restaurant.
Melbourneâs explosive Black Rock cluster that snapped the stateâs streak of 61 days without any new coronavirus infections has spread across 14 households in the cityâs southeast.
Department of Health and Human Services testing commander Jeroen Weimar said a group of 12 had dined at the Smile Buffalo Thai Black Rock and âinfected each otherâ before transmitting the virus to the rest of the community.
There are 27 active cases linked to the cluster, will all three new cases recorded on Tuesday connected to it.
Anyone who visited Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant from 7.30-9.30pm on December 21 must get tested for coronavirus immediately and quarantine for 14 days regardless of symptoms.
There are 900 primary and 400 secondary contacts associated with the cluster.
Victorian DHHS testing commander Jeroen Weimar is confident the Black Rock cluster is under control. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire
Victorian DHHS testing commander Jeroen Weimar is confident the Black Rock cluster is under control. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWireSource: News Corp Australia
But five days into the outbreak, Mr Weimar is confident health authorities are getting on top of the situation.
âTwelve of the 27 cases were all together on 21 December, at the dinner, at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock,â he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
âItâs exceptionally positive that every single day that weâve been talking about the Black Rock cluster, any new positives are identified within people who have already been asked to isolate and quarantine for 14 days.
âThat, of course, gives us a perfect chance of containing this cluster as we move along.â
Mr Weimar warned the situation would âcontinue to evolveâ as more exposure sites were listed on the DHHS website.
âAs more of the primary close contacts test positive, as more people come into the scope of our investigation, hence more exposure sites are being identified,â he said.
âIf we get hold of it this week, weâll be in a far better position in the weeks ahead.â
Victoria recorded three new locally acquired cases of coronavirus on Tuesday as 32,544 Victorians were tested in the past 24 hours.
The Department of Health also confirmed one new case in overseas arrivals.
There are 38 active COVID-19 cases across the state.
