Victoria’s Case Dip Amid Fears Of Melbourne Cup Party Spreader Event

Victoria's Covid numbers dip with 1069 new infections on Tuesday and sadly, 10 lives lost. 

The state currently has 15,607 active coronavirus cases, as hospitalisation numbers continue to fall with 579 people in hospital, 90 of those in ICU and 55 on ventilators.

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The new cases were detected from 47,794 swabs collected on Sunday, while 11,269 vaccine doses were administered at state run hubs and many more at GP clinics and pharmacies.

It comes as fears escalate over a Covid cluster stemming from extravagant Melbourne Cup festivities. 

Ozzie Kheir, an owner of Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, reportedly tested positive to Covid on Friday, with two further cases linked on Monday, according to the Herald Sun.

Earlier concerns of a super spreader event were sparked when Victoria Racing Cub (VRC) confirmed on Friday that two fully vaccinated people had tested positive to the virus.

One of the cases was a contractor who worked at Flemington Racecourse on Derby Day and at the Melbourne Cup, while the other was a spectator on Cup Day.  

100 guests at Tuesday's party at Collins Street restaurant, Society who were celebrating the prestigious mare’s win have all been asked to get tested, that includes Richmond players and Ricky Ponting.

Paul Guerra from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce told Nine this is a taste of what’s going to happen as Melbourne re-opens. 

"The thing with these types of things, were not sure where you’re picking up Covid from, you’re not sure whether your positive in the venue"

"He certainly didn't get his result back till Friday, so it could have been any period from Tuesday to Friday," he said, "But he's done the right thing, he's tested positive, and now he's isolating, and he's telling others to go and get tested as well".

The state will see greater freedoms when the state hits the 90 per cent milestone of fully vaccinated people aged over 12 anticipated for November 24.

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