Teenager in ICU with Covid after attending an illegal 16th birthday party in Melbourne

A teenager is in intensive care after catching Covid-19 from an illegal 16th birthday party held during lockdown.

A group of Year 10 students from Melbourne’s St Columba’s College and peers from two other local high schools caught the virus after attending the birthday bash last week.

One student is now reportedly receiving care in the ICU prompting St Columba’s College principal Rita Grima to email parents reminding them of Melbourne’s Covid restrictions. 

‘It has come to my attention that there are a number of student gatherings taking place to celebrate events such as 16th birthdays,’ she wrote to parents.

‘I have been informed that one such event involved Year 10 students from St Columba’s College as well as two other local schools and that a number of young people from that party have now tested positive to Covid-19. 

‘I understand the frustrations and disappointments that our young people are facing as milestones come and go marked by a lack of celebration and ceremony.

‘It is important that we support appropriate decision-making with our young people, make plans for a time when celebrations can occur safely.’

Ms Grima told the Herald Sun the student who hosted the 16th birthday party did not attend her school but it’s unclear which college the teenager in ICU attends. 

‘There are people who are making decisions that are not following the health advice in general and it’s disappointing,’ she told the publication.

‘I’ve sent out a notice reminding everyone on the advice of the chief health officer that the best way to protect ourselves and the community is to get vaccinated.’

The scare comes after Victoria recorded 1,638 new coronavirus cases on Thursday – the second-most recorded in a single day in Australia in the whole pandemic. 

One student is now reportedly receiving care in the ICU prompting St Columba’s College principal Rita Grima to email parents reminding them of Melbourne’s Covid restrictions

Infections dipped on Wednesday to 1,420 after a high of 1,763 the day before, but any hopes that marked the start of a decline were quickly extinguished by Thursday’s figure.

Two people also died while positive with Covid and that number is expected to get worse, with the number of active cases in the state having doubled in the space of just 12 days, from 7,611 on AFL Grand Final day on September 25 to 15,074 on Thursday.

The new cases were diagnosed from 77,238 tests, representing a positive rate of 2.12 per cent, which is double that of NSW at the height of its outbreak.

Experts last week predicted Victoria’s outbreak could peak at up to 3,000 a day in mid-October before it started to fall, as NSW’s has for a few weeks. 

The scare comes after Victoria recorded 1,638 new coronavirus cases on Thursday – the second-most recorded in a single day in Australia in the whole pandemic