The nurse was supporting residents relocated from Arcare Maidstone aged-care facility. Photo / NCA
The nurse was supporting residents relocated from Arcare Maidstone aged-care facility. Photo / NCA
A vaccinated nurse has tested positive to Covid-19 in Victoria as the Australian state recorded three new locally acquired infections today.
The state's health department announced five new local cases about 8.30am, but two of those were previously revealed yesterday afternoon.
In a positive sign, the health department said the three further cases were all linked to current outbreaks.
Acting Victoria Premier James Merlino said two of the new cases were primary close contacts of previous positive case at the Southbank apartment complex, and the other one was a vaccinated nurse from Epping Private Hospital.
Victoria's Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities were "very concerned" about the nurse testing positive.
He said there were fears she worked a shift while potentially infectious.
Health workers check on tenants of the townhouse complex in Southbank after new virus infections. Photo / NCA
"This is one of the nursing and caring team who were supporting the Arcare residents that were relocated there about 10 days ago," Weimar said.
"There's a full incident response team that's working through the circumstances, we understand at the moment that the nurse worked two shifts on June 9 and 14.
"We believe she may have been infectious for the second of those shifts."
Weimar said further information would be shared as it became available.
Chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton said testing positive once vaccinated was not unusual and it would happen from time to time.
"The vaccine provides protection, it is an absolute must for healthcare workers but it is not a perfect solution for protecting oneself," Sutton said.
There were also three new coronavirus infections recorded in hotel quarantine.
Victorians lining up at a vaccination centre during the start of the new outbreak. Photo / NCA
The number of active cases in Victoria is 55, up from 54 yesterday.
The new cases came from 17,538 test results, while 14,870 vaccine doses were also administered in the past 24 hours.
It comes as the state government revealed another easing of coronavirus restrictions at 11.59pm Thursday.
Residents at the Kings Park apartment complex in Southbank have now been forced into two weeks lockdown with the outbreak rising to eight positive cases.
The health department has now expanded the number of primary close contacts associated with the outbreak to include all residents and visitors to the complex from June 2 to 14.
