Victoria records two more local coronavirus cases linked to Holiday Inn cluster

Victoria has recorded two more locally acquired cases of coronavirus on a day that authorities are evacuating one of the city’s quarantine hotels.

There were also two more cases found in international arrivals. There are now 25 active cases in the state.

The new cases bring the Holiday Inn cluster to 19 cases. On Monday, as another woman tested positive after attending a family function with an infected hotel quarantine worker.

The two new cases are close household contacts of a previously confirmed case, according to the Health Department.

Victoria’s “circuit-breaker” lockdown is due to end on Wednesday, but Premier Daniel Andrews has not ruled out extending it. On Monday, he said it was too early to make a call about relaxing the stage four restrictions.

The cluster began at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. The hot-hotel, housing COVID-positive patients, being evacuated on Tuesday is the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane.

The evacuation is due to water damage, according to quarantine officials. A sprinkler system caused damage to four of the eight floors on the weekend.

Thirty-one residents at the Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane are being transferred to the Pullman Hotel, while repairs for water damage are completed.

A COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) spokesperson said the Pullman Albert Park Hotel was assessed by ventilation experts and determined as the most suitable hotel within CQV’s current hotel stock to accommodate symptomatic and positive residents.

“Strict infection prevention and control (IPC) measures will be followed during the transfer to ensure the health and safety of residents, staff and the community,” a statement from the spokesperson said.

“Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders staff will be transferred to the Pullman Albert Park along with the 31 residents, where they will continue to provide support to residents.”

A sprinkler system was activated on the fourth floor on Saturday, although there was no fire, resulting in water damage to four of the eight floors of the hotel, according to CQV.

The Pullman Albert Park Hotel was previously used to quarantine Australian Open participants and was intended to be brought online shortly as additional quarantine capacity.

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