Coronavirus Victoria: Cluster emerges at Royal Children’s Hospital

Chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton said four cases had been linked to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The cases are two parents, one patient and a healthcare worker.

Professor Sutton said all babies, staff and parents, including any staff who had spent more than two hours on Butterfly Ward since July 12 would be tested.

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The cases are among 532 new cases announced on Monday, the state’s worst day of the pandemic.

The previous highest number was 484 last Wednesday.

Victoria also recorded six deaths, five of them connected to outbreaks in aged care.

The deaths were a female in her 90s, a female in her 80s, a man in his 80s, a female in her 70s, a male in his 70s, and a male in his 50s.

Premier Daniel Andrews said there was now 4542 total active cases in the state, with 683 connected to aged care.

He said there was now 245 people in hospital in Victoria with COVID-19, including 44 in intensive care.

Mr Andrews said lockdown would not end and cases would continue to rise if Victorians did not stop going to work with symptoms.

“This is what is driving these numbers up and the lockdown will not end until people stop going to work with symptoms and instead go and get tested because they have symptoms,” he said.

“It’s not a matter of blame, it’s not a matter of judgment, these are the facts and unless we see a change, then we’re going to continue to see these numbers at unacceptably high levels. So, please, do something that will we will all be so grateful for – act on your symptoms.

“This is the biggest driver, it’s not the only issue, but it is the biggest driver of transmission. It is the biggest driver of these numbers going up rather than going down.”

Originally published as Newborn in Vic ICU contracts virus