Good morning,
Hundreds more people are expected to be tested for Covid-19 in the northern Victorian town of Shepparton today after three people working in a tyre shop tested positive on Monday. Some people were turned away from testing sites as long queues formed yesterday, but another drive-through testing site has been set up today.
Anyone who attended the following locations in Shepparton is advised to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14-days regardless of symptoms: the Central Tyre Service in Shepparton on Wednesday 30 September to Tuesday 13 October; the Mooroopna Golf Club Members Bar on Sunday 4 October and Sunday 11 October; the Thai Orchid Restaurant on Wednesday 7 October from 7pm onwards; Bombshell Hairdressing on Wednesday 7 October from 9.30am; and the Shepparton Market Place Medical Centre on Thursday 8 October from 9.15am to 10.15am.
Anyone who attended Bunnings Warehouse in Shepparton on 30 September, McDonalds Shepparton North on 3 October, the Lemon Tree Cafe in Shepparton any day from 7 to 12 October, and the Mooroopna Golf Club Pro Shop on 11 October is advised to get tested and self-isolate at home until they get their result.
The tyre shop employees are believed to have caught the virus from a Melbourne based truck-driver who stopped off at the town two weeks ago, but neglected to tell contact tracers. The same driver is believed to have spread the virus to Kilmore, an hour north of Melbourne, and contracted the virus from someone who worked at the Butcher Shop in Chadstone shopping centre. The Chadstone shopping centre cluster has grown to 35 cases.
That driver has now been referred to police, with premier Daniel Andrews saying:
You don’t get in trouble if you tell the full story, I want to make that clear to people. You potentially do get into trouble if you don’t.
In New South Wales, new cases have been discovered in southwestern Sydney, leading health authorities to issue a warning over two tutoring facilities.
Anyone who attended Al-Jabar – A Different Class of Mathematics in Auburn on Thursday 8 October from 4.30pm to 8.45pm, and Sunday 11 October from 10am to 4.30pm; and ACE Tutoring in Parramatta on Saturday 10 October from 9.30am to 1.20pm, has been asked to get tested for Covid-19 and self-isolate for 14-days, regardless of their test result.
Anyone who attended the Westfield shopping centre in Mount Druitt on Monday, 12 October, from 11.30am to 1pm is advised to monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
In other news, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has survived a no-confidence motion moved by opposition leader Jodi McKay, over Berejiklian’s relationship with ex-NSW MP Daryl Maguire. Maguire is expected to return to the witness box at Icac today, after admitting yesterday that he sought to “monetise†his parliamentary office, received thousands in a cash for visas scheme, and attempted to set up introductions for business opportunities using his parliamentary connections. Berejiklian has repeatedly said she will not resign.
Let’s crack on. You can reach me on twitter @callapilla or via email at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com
