TIME TO TEST

Members of the western suburbs’ community have been urged to get tested for COVID-19, amid a growing number of active cases within the west.

Victoria’s COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar said on Monday that those in their 20s and 30s, particularly those residing in the Altona North, Newport and Hoppers Crossing areas, were encouraged to get tested if they were experiencing any symptoms.

In acknowledging the cases that had emerged from the WRFL football match late last month, Mr Weimar praised the respective clubs involved, saying the recent outbreak “was exceptionally well controlled by (the football) communities, and those people did a fantastic job in coming forward.”

Mr Weimar went on to specifically thank the Newport Football Club, saying that “the footy club president and the team there have been fantastic in helping to get the message out and to work with their community.”

Mr Weimar said that cases were emerging in the Hobson’s Bay community from those with no direct link to the football community, but rather from people “three, four, five rings out from the footy club.”

All affected WRFL clubs that participated at the tier 1 site on Saturday 31 July have collectively completed their respective 14-day isolation periods.