16 Jun 2021

Victoria records three new local Covid-19 cases ahead of restrictions review

2:45 pm on 16 June 2021

Victoria has reported three new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, as the state anticipates an announcement on the possible easing of restrictions from Friday.

People queue up for Covid-19 testing in Melbourne on May 12, 2021, after a man tested positive to Covid-19 in the first community case in the city for two months.

People queue up for Covid-19 testing in Melbourne. Photo: AFP

The state officially recorded a total of five new local cases on Tuesday, which includes two cases revealed by authorities at a Tuesday afternoon press conference, which were both linked to a Southbank apartment complex outbreak.

The health department said the three new cases revealed today were linked to current outbreaks.

There were 17,538 test results received and 14,870 vaccination doses were delivered at state-run sites.

Testing locations at St Vincent's Hospital, Alfred Health, Montague Street in South Melbourne, and Aughtie Walk in Albert Park reached capacity by 10am today (local time).

A further easing of Melbourne's lockdown restrictions is expected to be announced today, including the end of the 25km travel limit.

Senior state government ministers and health officials are meeting this morning to finalise the details of the new arrangements.

Melbourne is expected to come into line with most of the restrictions in place in regional Victoria, but there are still likely to be different density limits for hospitality.

The changes are set to come into effect from 11.59pm Thursday.

Meanwhile, authorities have listed the busy South Melbourne Market as a Covid-19 exposure site after a positive case attended on 12 June.

The market was closed today after it was listed last night as a Tier 2 exposure site between 11.30am and 1.30pm on Saturday (local time).

Anyone who was at the venue during that time must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Several stores within the market have also been listed individually, including Padre Coffee, which is listed as a Tier 1 exposure site.

Executive director of South Melbourne Market Danielle Bleazby said she hoped the listing did not deter people from returning to the market when it reopened.

"We're doing a full clean as we speak and we'll be ready to go from Friday onwards, business as usual," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"We'd love the support of our community to come and get behind our traders and really support them and get out on Friday and through the weekend to get them back on track again."

Dozens of other venues around South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, and the CBD were also added to the list last night.

- ABC

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