Source: The Age
Victoria’s coronavirus outbreak has grown by four new locally acquired cases on Friday, including a primary school student from Melbourne’s south-west.
The official health department figures come as Heathdale Christian College announced a year six student who attended the Werribee campus from August 3 to August 5 had tested positive for coronavirus.
Parents at the school were informed in the early hours of Friday morning.
The state recorded six new cases on Friday, the first day of the state’s sixth lockdown. Two of these cases had been revealed on Thursday afternoon.
The new cases are all linked to previously reported cases and were not in quarantine during their infectious periods.
Victorian health authorities listed three new exposure sites late on Thursday: two Virgin Australia flights as well as one of the terminals at Melbourne Airport bringing the total to 84.
The figures come as protesters stormed the Melbourne CBD on Thursday evening calling for the resignation of Premier Daniel Andrews and for ‘freedom’ just hours after the snap lockdown was announced.
Hundreds of people gathered in Flinders street at 7pm and marched around the city, mostly mask-less, and some protesters armed with flares.
Police made fifteen arrests and used pepper spray to quell aggravated protesters who were chanting “no lockdown”.
Sixteen fines were handed out for breaching CHO directions, some of those rules were engaged an hour after protesters started rallying.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said some protesters are known to Victoria Police as previously instigating freedom rallies.
“Four of the offenders who were arrested or fined are known to police as protest organisers,” he said. “They have been dealt with previously and it is expected will be presented to court on appropriate charges, such as incitement.
“Any offenders who are established to be repeat offenders will also face appropriate charges and be placed before the court to prevent their repeat offending.”
One sergeant was pushed to the ground and allegedly kicked by a protester, causing minor injuries.
The assault, the use of flares, and the vandalisation of a police car have sparked criminal investigations. Victoria Police will use video footage from the protest to identify protesters of interest.
“Police are, together with the vast majority of Victorians who are doing the right thing, outraged that a small minority of people continue to engage in deliberate breaches of the CHO Directions, putting the lives and jobs of their fellow Victorians, as well as their police at risk,” Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said.
“Police will continue to review video footage to identify as many protesters as we can, in order to hold offenders to account, as has been the case for previous protests,” he said.
