A Melbourne school at the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak will be questioned amid claims it was operating at full capacity despite tough lockdown restrictions.
Authorities are investigating the outbreak at Fitzroy Community School in Fitzroy North.
The Department of Health on Monday night said 29 students and staff had contracted the virus, while there were 82 close contacts associated with the outbreak.
There are about 60 students enrolled at the school, which describes itself as an “independent, alternative primary school”.
Only children of permitted workers and those who are vulnerable are currently allowed to attend school in Melbourne, but the school had been inviting all parents to send their children to class.
The school has been closed for deep cleaning, and it is believed the school will not reopen until all staff complete their 14-day quarantine.
Victoria recorded 473 new COVID-19 cases on Monday – the highest daily tally of the state’s latest outbreak – bringing the total number of active infections to 3507.
All but 38 of the new infections reside in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, which are subject to a three-week vaccination blitz.
Health Minister Martin Foley said 87 per cent of active cases were aged under 50, with 585 aged under 19.
“This continues to be a pandemic of the young and the unvaccinated,” he told reporters on Monday.
Mr Foley said 89 per cent of the 157 Victorians fighting COVID-19 in hospital were unvaccinated, while 11 per cent had received one dose.
Monash Health, which operates a network of public hospitals, says it’s currently caring for six pregnant women with COVID-19.
Four are in a dedicated COVID-19 maternity ward and two are in ICU.
None are fully vaccinated, but one has had one dose.
“We urge all pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women trying to get pregnant to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Monash Health said in a statement.
“It is the best protection for them and their baby.”
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar also said an increasing number of cases had also been linked to the construction industry, subject to a vaccination blitz and compliance crackdown from Monday.
Coaches will continue to replace the majority of V/Line services on Tuesday as hundreds of frontline V/Line workers continue to isolate following six positive cases among staff.
A prisoner at the Melbourne Remand Centre has also tested positive.Â
AAP
