Benjamin Millar and Tara Murray
The Caroline Springs COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow with more than 30 cases now linked to the cluster.
Three new cases were linked to the outbreak at the CS Square Shopping Centre on Sunday as infection spread to household contacts of people connected to YPA Real Estate and the Jolly Miller Cafe.
The outbreak stems back to a staff member who worked at the Spectacle Hub in the shopping centre while infectious.
All staff who worked at the centre between August 2 and 5 have been classified as tier one contacts and are isolating.
The whole centre is listed as a tier two site between July 27 and August 6, while a number of stores are also listed as tier one sites.
Caroline Springs exposure sites include The Jolly Miller Café, Gloria Jean’s, The Reject Shop, Anytime Fitness, Coles, The Coffee Club, NAB, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse, Target, New Oriental Café, YPA Real Estate, Caroline Springs Childcare & Kindergarten and 7-Eleven.
A number of other shopping centres including Watergardens, Taylors Hill Village, Cairnlea Town Centre and Burnside Hub Shopping Centre have also been listed as exposure sites.
Victoria’s COVID commander Jeroen Weimar said late last week that testing rates have increased threefold across the western suburbs compared to the week before, but more testing is crucial.
“People are coming out in droves and we are working very hard to get to the bottom of these latest outbreaks,” he said.
Mr Weimar said despite the high number of cases associated with the shopping centre, CS Square has undergone a deep clean and remains “safe to visit”.
A new COVID-19 testing site was set up at the Keilor Park Basketball Stadium on Thursday to help with demand.
It will operate 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
