Victoria could be headed for a third lockdown with health authorities in pandemonium fearing they have lost control of a third wave of Covid-19.
Premier Daniel Andrews held heated crisis talks with health chiefs on Thursday night after five new infections were linked to the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport cluster, bringing the outbreak to 13 cases.
State government advisers were instructed to draw up plans for a third lockdown as early as Friday evening which would spell an end to crowds at the Australian Open.
Victoria is on the brink of a third lockdown. Pictured: Tennis fans enjoy Day four of the Australian Open, which would have crowds banned if lockdown occurred
Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn COVID-19 outbreak grows to 13 after another worker and two contacts test positive
Posted
WedWednesday 10
updated
ThuThursday 11
The Holiday Inn outbreak could have been fuelled by mist from a nebuliser.
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Another two individuals linked to Melbourne s Airport Holiday Inn have tested positive to coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the cluster to 13.
Key points:
There are now 13 positive cases linked to the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport outbreak
One of the positive cases had been in a wastewater catchment where coronavirus fragments were earlier detected
A list of coronavirus exposure sites was updated to include the Brunetti cafe at Melbourne Airport
All of Melbourne Airport Terminal 4 has been listed as an exposure site for a period on Tuesday, as health officials say 905 primary close contacts have been found across the entire outbreak.
Five million Melbourne residents are bracing for lockdown once again as a Covid-19 cluster grows to 13, with five new cases reported on Friday.
Victorian ministers held a cabinet meeting at 11.45am to discuss a five-day lockdown that could involve confining residents to their homes except for essential reasons and closing schools and businesses.
The restrictions are expected to come into play on Friday evening after Premier Daniel Andrews gives a press conference at 1pm.
A city-wide lockdown could see fans banned from the Australian Open with Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Aussie superstar Nick Kyrgios due to play on Friday.