Black Lives Matter protester in Victoria tests positive for coronavirus

A Victorian who attended the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne has tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities have confirmed.

Authorities say the individual, who developed symptoms on Sunday, the day after the protest, wore at mask at the protest.

“They weren’t symptomatic at the time,” Victorian Chief Health OfficerProfessor Brett Sutton said.

But he said it is possible the person was infectious at the time they attended the protest.

“How infectious someone is, is not clear, but it is known that people can transmit the virus within 24 hours of developing symptoms,” he said.

“So, you know, that’s a concern. It’s obviously helpful that individual wore a mask but masks are not 100 per cent protection.”

It’s not clear whether the person downloaded the government’s COVID-19 app.

Overall there have been eight new cases in Victoria.

Earlier NSW announced it would further ease restrictions on Saturday to allow up to 20 people at gatherings. 

Globally, there have been more than 7.2 million known coronavirus infections, with a global death toll of 409,617.

In Australia there have been 7274 cases, with 3117 in NSW, 1062 in Queensland, 1691 in Victoria, 440 in South Australia, 599 in Western Australia, 228 in Tasmania, 108 in the ACT and 29 in the NT.

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