Restrictions Return In Melbourne After Hotel Worker Tests Positive For Covid-19

People living in Melbourne woke up to fresh restrictions this morning (4 February), after a hotel worker tested positive for coronavirus.

A hallway monitor was working in Victoria's Australian Open hotel quarantine system when they contracted Covid-19.

The 26-year-old man tested negative on 29 January 29 and last worked in the Grand Hyatt that day. However, he later developed symptoms.

Premier Daniel Andrews decided the best course of action was to restrict people's movements in the city to ensure there isn't a third wave.

Residents will only be allowed 15 people for private indoor gatherings, masks must now be worn in public indoor spaces and the cap on office numbers will remain.

The restrictions have been reinstated to ensure the UK super-strain of the coronavirus doesn't spread.

Premier Andrews said in a press conference last night (3 February): "We have to assume that this person has, in fact, infected others.

"If you have any symptoms, any symptoms whatsoever, the only thing for you to do... is to go and get tested.

"This is one case. There's no need for people to panic. There's no need for people to be alarmed. We Victorians know what to do and we have proven as a state, very successful at managing these sorts of outbreaks."

The hotel worker's positive result has also caused up to 600 Australian Open tennis players and officials to isolate until they get a negative result.

Health officials have released a detailed outline of the places that could be exposure sites and anyone who has visited them during the specified times should get tested immediately.

Saturday 30th January  2021

- Club Noble: Noble Park - 2.36pm - 3.30pm

- Aces Sporting Club (Driving Range):  Keysborough - 10.00pm - 11.15pm

Sunday 31st January 2021

- North Point Café: Brighton - 8.10am - 9.30am

- Kmart: Keysborough - 4.00pm - 5.00pm

- Kmart: Brandon Park  - 4.35pm - 5.10pm

- Coles: Springvale - 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Monday 1st February 2021

- Bunnings: Springvale - 11.28am - 12.15pm

- Golf Academy: Heatherton - 5.19pm - 6.30pm

The positive result in hotel quarantine came on the same day Victorian officials revealed two people in a different hotel had been infected with a mutant strain of Covid-19, despite being in separate rooms.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the 'working assumption' was that the virus jumped between the rooms when the guests opened their doors to collect food.

Around 100 staff who worked on the same floor as the infected guests' rooms and 37 other guests have been forced to get tested.

Ms Neville said there was no threat to the wider community, but did highlight how easily the virus can spread.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie