Victoria has recorded 22 new locally acquired COVID cases as police probe an alleged Melbourne engagement party that may have been attended by an infected person.
The health department on Monday confirmed 17 of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks and 14 were in quarantine during their infectious period.
It means five of the new infections are mystery cases.
Some 29,986 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Monday morning, while 19,880 Victorians were vaccinated at state-run hubs.
It comes as Melbourne’s Jewish leaders have urged community members to follow lockdown rules after dozens recently gathered at a private residence for an alleged lockdown engagement party.
A mother and son from St Kilda East, the heart of the city’s Jewish community, tested positive to COVID-19 over the weekend despite having no known links to other cases.
In a video of the alleged lockdown gathering, seen by AAP, a man jokes to the crowded room: “Clearly this is legal as a group therapy session. That’s why my father’s here.”
A state government spokeswoman said the potential breach has been referred to Victoria Police, who are investigating.
Former Victorian Labor MP Philip Dalidakis said he recognised people he knew from the video.
“I am speechless. I am genuinely shocked at the brazen disregard for our laws,” he wrote on social media.
“Not one person in the video should be there, not one person in the video is using masks, not one person in the video is considering the selfish impact their behaviour is now having.”
While noting the event was not representative of the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community, he said small pockets needed to reflect on “just how dangerous and selfish their behaviour has been”.
The newly elected president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Daniel Aghion, called for calm and said anyone concerned about exposure should contact authorities.
COVID response commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters on Sunday he believed the St Kilda East pair had been infectious in the community for a number of days.
He described the developments as part of a tipping point in the latest outbreak, and said health officers had been meeting with community leaders since Saturday.
Police are cracking down on illegal gatherings after dozens congregated for a takeaway-drink pub crawl event in Richmond on Saturday and about 200 people gathered for a street party in Northcote.
The state recorded 25 new local infections on Sunday, with Premier Daniel Andrews saying mystery cases were too high to reopen.
AAP
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