One new case in Melbourne as more exposure sites listed

UPDATE [4.17pm AEST 25 May]: The Whittlesea City COVID-19 cluster has since grown by four more cases. Read more here.

Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino has advised of a fifth case in the latest Whittlesea City COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne's north - a man in his 60s who has also been linked to the first case reported yesterday.

"Importantly, he reports being symptomatic before case one developed symptoms, meaning this could be a possible source case," Merlino said.

"But of course a full investigation and interview process is underway - it has to run its course.

"Following early investigations, this case, like the four that we announced yesterday, has not identified any link to any of the exposure sites from the Wollert case two weeks ago."

However, the acting Premier explained genetic sequencing for this outbreak has been completed and in that sense it is closely related to the Wollert outbreak, which occurred with a returning traveller who became COVID symptomatic after completing quarantine in Adelaide.

In response to the situation and on the advice of health officials, from 6pm tonight private gatherings in Greater Melbourne will be limited to a maximum of five visitors, public gatherings will be capped at 30 people, and face masks will be required indoors.

These rules will also apply to people leaving Greater Melbourne to other parts of the state. Schools and workplaces will remain open.

Melburnians and travellers who have been in Greater Melbourne recently are encouraged to keep an eye on the official list of exposure sites, which following interviews with the latest case is expected to grow.

Since Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong and 'Jump! Swim Schools' at Bundoora were added yesterday afternoon, more venues and locations have been added including:

• Futsal Brunswick - 23 May from 9-10am (Tier 2)
• Nando's Epping (Dalton Rd) - 19 May from 8:30-9:20pm (Tier 1)
• Epping North Shopping Centre - 22 May from 4:45-5:50pm (Tier 2)
• House and Party (store) - 22 May from 5:15-5:50pm (Tier 2)
• Woolworths Epping North - 22 May from 4:45-5:45pm (Tier 1)
• Urban Diner Food Court, Pacific Epping Shopping Centre - 23 May from 1:15-2:30pm
• Shell Coles Express Reservoir - 18 May from 3:15-4:15pm (Tier 2)
• B.T. Connor Reserve - 21 May from 8-11:30pm

Anyone who has been to a Tier 1 site at the stated times must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure, while anyone who has attended Tier 2 sites at the listed times needs to also get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. 

Updated at 10:17am on 25 May 2021.