Melbourne’s lockdown likely to be EXTENDED until at least early next week after spike of 20 new Covid cases

By Charlie Coë For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:22 BST, 10 August 2021 | Updated: 22:34 BST, 10 August 2021

Melbourne’s sixth Covid-19 lockdown is set to be extended until the beginning of next week after Victoria recorded 20 new cases of the virus on Tuesday.  

The snap seven-day lockdown in Greater Melbourne was scheduled to end at 8pm on Thursday.

But Premier Daniel Andrews is expected on Wednesday to announce he is extending the lockdown until at least early next week, The Herald Sun reported.

Melbourne 's sixth Covid-19 lockdown is set to be extended until the beginning of next week. Pictured is the entrance to a vaccination centre at the city's Royal Exhibition Building

Melbourne ‘s sixth Covid-19 lockdown is set to be extended until the beginning of next week. Pictured is the entrance to a vaccination centre at the city’s Royal Exhibition Building

Only five of Victoria’s 20 new local cases on Tuesday were in quarantine throughout their infectious period. 

Late on Tuesday night the state’s health department said a confirmed case of COVID-19 had been found to be connected to a Melbourne paediatric specialist clinic. 

The department said it was investigating ‘a potential exposure at private medical rooms’ located at 48 Flemington Road on August 9 with investigations underway into that person’s movements.

However, it was not confirmed whether the case worked at the clinic or was a patient.

Regional Victoria was released from its lockdown at midnight on Monday, however Greater Melbourne remains under stay-at-home rules until at least 8pm Thursday.

Authorities have refused to rule out an extension to the lockdown, with Health Minister Martin Foley saying decisions were being made on an ‘hour-by-hour basis’.

Two big Victorian events were cancelled on Tuesday – the AFL Grand Final Parade and the Avalon Airshow.

The exposure site list grew to more than 270, including a second housing tower in Flemington.

Of greatest concern to authorities is Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, where half of Tuesday’s new cases contracted the virus.

More to come 

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