Victoria is still trying to identify the source of the state’s first mystery COVID-19 case in more than two months, after recording no new infections.
The state had no local, interstate, or overseas acquired cases to report on Thursday – its first clean sheet since 29 December.
Three infected people have also recovered, lowering the number of active cases to 38.
The active cases include a man in his 30s who authorities fear may have caught the virus after going to Chadstone Shopping Centre on Boxing Day and the second day of the Test at the MCG a day later.
Thousands of shoppers and cricket spectators have answered the call to get tested as officials scramble to find the source of that mystery case.
There were 32,767 swabs processed in the 24 hours to Wednesday, on top of more than 100,000 over the previous three days.
Tracing the source of the mystery case has been described by the state’s COVID response commander Jeroen Weimar as a “needle in a haystack exercise” for contact tracers.
It’s the first case of unknown transmission since early November.
A lengthy virus-free streak at the end of the state’s deadly second wave of infections had emboldened health officials to ease restrictions and sign off on a 30,000-strong crowd for each day for the Australia-India Test.
As many as 8000 people seated in zone five of the Great Southern Stand on the afternoon of 27 December have been asked to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result.
Shoppers at 10 Chadstone stores between 6am and 1.30pm on Boxing Day have been given the same advice.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.
