Victorian health officials are yet to solve a “mystery” coronavirus link that has put a small south-west Victorian town “on edge”.
Key points:
- A Mount Gambier woman says she visited Casterton before testing positive to COVID in SA
- Authorities are probing the veracity of her claims and say she may have visited Melbourne
- Casterton has never recorded a coronavirus case and no exposure sites have been listed in the town
Authorities are investigating the movements of a Mount Gambier woman who tested positive to coronavirus in South Australia on Sunday.
The unvaccinated woman told officials she visited the Victorian town of Casterton last week before returning home.
But it has since emerged that she may have also travelled to Melbourne and Casterton residents are unsure whether she visited the town at all.
Casterton pharmacy manager Kane Forbes said locals were crying out for answers.
“It’s all a bit crazy, mainly due to lack of information, whether it be from SA authorities or Victorian authorities,” he said.
ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham
)The plot thickens
The Mount Gambier woman has been moved into hotel quarantine with her family after initially being hospitalised.
SA Police are also investigating whether a suspicious car fire was a targeted attack on the woman.
Victorian COVID Commander Jeroem Wiemar said the case was proving “a bit of a mystery”.
“My understanding is there was a positive case from Melbourne who travelled to Mount Gambier and had some exposure to Casterton,” he said.
SA authorities are also investigating the woman’s movements.
SA Police Commissioner, Grant Stevens, is urging people not to jump to conclusions.
“We don’t know exactly what’s gone on,” he said.
ABC South West Victoria: Daniel Miles
)Too many rumours
There are no active cases in the Glenelg Shire and Casterton has never had a positive case of COVID-19.
Mr Forbes said he was worried the town had become complacent as a result.
“I think we’re a little bit naive and maybe even a little bit ignorant to what’s been happening in the rest of the world,” he said.
“We’re sort of tucked away in the corner here and have been extremely lucky.
ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle
)Mr Forbes said residents wanted clarity about the situation above all else.
“Obviously, rumour has it they just used us as a reference point to try and stay in the clear with the police,” he said.
“There’s got to be some information – whether it’s from the Victorian Department of Health or SA Health – that comes out to people so they’re not guessing and there’s not speculation and rumours going about about what’s going on.
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