MCG on alert as cricket fan who went to Australia-India match after visiting Chadstone shopping centre tests positive for Covid-19
Thousands of cricket fans who went to the second day of the Australia-India Test match at the MCG are being urged to get tested for coronavirus after a fan was diagnosed with the disease.
The man watched the game from zone 5 in the Great Southern Stand between 12.30pm and 3.30pm on 27 December.
About 8,000 fans who were in that zone are being urged via text message to get tested.
Thousands of cricket fans who went to the second day of the Australia-India match at the MCG are being urged to get tested
The man watched the game from zone 5 in the Great Southern Stand between 12.30pm and 3.30pm on 27 December. Pictured: Fans at the game on 29 December
The man is a 'mystery case' meaning contact tracers do not know where he caught his infection.
Officials do not believe he was infectious at the MCG but want fans to get tested to find out if they may be the source of his illness.
The man also visited Chadstone Shopping Centre on Boxing Day from 6am to 2pm, and may have caught his infection there.
The state government wants anyone who went to Culture Kings, Huffer, JD Sports, Jay Jays, H&M, Uniqlo, Myer, Superdry and Bunnings on that day to get tested.
The man also went to a Christmas Eve function with a person from New South Wales - but officials do not think he caught the infection there because the person was not unwell.
The man got tested on 3 January and his result was returned on 5 January.
Officials believe his infection is likely from a second cluster and not linked to an outbreak at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock, which has 27 cases.
Genomic analysis will on Thursday afternoon confirm if his infection is linked to any outbreaks in New South Wales which emerged after 16 December.
Victoria recorded three new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, with just one coming from a local source and the other two acquired overseas.
It takes the number of active cases in the state to 41.
Testing lifted for a third straight day, with 37,509 swabs processed on Tuesday.
The man also visited Chadstone Shopping Centre on Boxing Day from 6am to 2pm, and may have caught his infection there
More than 1,300 close contacts of those affected by the Black Rock Cluster are in quarantine as health officials work to limit the spread.
Genomic testing has linked those cases to a cluster on Sydney's northern beaches, one of several being managed by authorities in NSW.
Those outbreaks prompted a tough new border policy, which has left thousands of Victorians stranded on the wrong side.
There were 2,798 exemption applications by Tuesday, with just 57 approved.
Police Minister Lisa Neville insists there will be no change to the exemption policy.
Victoria Police have turned away 1,532 motorists trying to cross the border, issuing 1232 warnings and 50 fines to people caught 'checkpoint shopping' or using misleading permit applications.