Victoria records two new cases of COVID-19 linked to AFL fixture at the MCG

Victoria has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 linked to last Saturday’s AFL Round 17 match between Carlton and Geelong at the MCG.

Victorian COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed the latest two new cases - linked to level two of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) member’s reserve - on Thursday afternoon.

Commander Weimar said the two new cases - one a minor and the other an adult - were sitting apart from each other and there was no obvious relationship between them, advising “this is possibly two examples of stranger-to-stranger transmission between the individuals that we know about.

"We do not believe they are known contacts of the other two positive cases we know were there.

"That gives us significant cause for concern."

Commander Weimar said contact tracers had burnt through seven rings of connections, which he described as the fastest response ever seen to an outbreak, adding “what we've got is two separate incursions into Victoria over the last three or four days, two chains of transmission, at least one is moving very actively and very aggressively across the state.”

As of this morning, the MCC, as ground managers of the MCG, has issued as statement about venue patrons who attended the 10th July match having since tested positive to COVID-19.

The statement advises “it has been identified that the patrons sat in the Melbourne Cricket Club Members’ Reserve at the MCG. The MCC Members’ Reserve operates as its own zone compared to the rest of the Ground, is only accessible via Gate 2 and is classified as Zone 2 within the MCG’s COVID-19 operations.

“MCC members and their guests who attended Saturday’s Carlton v Geelong Cats match have been asked to follow the health directive to get tested urgently, isolate until they receive the test results and adhere to any further advice from the Department of Health.”

The statement continues:

“Individuals seated in the affected sections are in the process of being contacted directly by the Victorian Department of Health. Some staff and patrons present at Saturday’s Carlton v Geelong Cats match have already been made Tier 1 primary close contacts, and have been directly contacted by the (Victorian) Department of Health. Additional Tier 1 primary close contacts are being identified and contacted.

 “The Percy Beames Bar on Level 2 of the Members’ Reserve is now a Tier 1 exposure site between 4:00 and 4:30pm, and between 5:20 and 5:50pm, on Saturday July 10. If any patrons were here during any of those times, they must immediately isolate, get a test, and quarantine for 14 days following the exposure.

“All sections of the Members’ Reserve between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:00pm on Saturday July 10 - not just Level 2 - are now a Tier 2 exposure site. If patrons attended the game on Saturday in these sections, they will be contacted by the Department of Health to advise them if they are a Tier 1 or Tier 2 contact - please continue to isolate until contacted.

“Other people who attended Saturday’s match but were not in the MCC Members' Reserve are advised to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they become unwell.

“The Route 70 tram departing Flinders St/Swanston St at 3:46pm and arriving at the MCG at 3:53pm is a Tier 1 exposure site. So is the tram stop on Flinders St, at the corner of Swanston, for the four minutes before departure. If patrons heading to the MCG or any individuals were on this tram, they must immediately isolate, get a test, and quarantine for 14 days following the exposure - and contact the Department of Health at 1300 651 160. If unsure, contact the Department and get a test.

“The train after the game from Jolimont Station to Flinders St - departing 7:13pm and arriving 7:20pm - is a Tier 2 exposure site, as is the Jolimont train platform from 7:05 to 7:17pm. If patrons travelling from the MCG or any individuals were on the train or platform in those times, immediately isolate, get a test, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result. If unsure, get tested.

“Young and Jackson, at the corner of Flinders and Swanston St, between 2:40pm and 4:10pm on Saturday July 10, is a Tier 1 exposure site. If individuals attended before the game during these times, they must immediately isolate, get a test and quarantine for 14 days following the exposure.

“The MCC has worked closely with the AFL in developing a COVIDSafe Event Plan for the 2021 AFL Premiership Season which was endorsed by the Victorian Government’s Department of Health. The MCG’s COVIDSafe Event Plan outlines specific measures to reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission, including the sectioning of the Ground into five zones to limit patron movement and the implementation of the Victorian Government QR system for contact tracing purposes.

“Extensive cleaning of the MCG takes place after each event and, out of an abundance of caution, a deep clean of the identified areas took place yesterday. During an event, constant touchpoint cleaning occurs and over 275 hand sanitising stations are located throughout the MCG for patron use.

“The MCC is committed to protecting the on-going wellbeing of those who visit the MCG and will continue to work closely with the Department of Health on our COVIDSafe event plans for the MCG.”