Residents at one of Melbourne’s public housing towers recently released from ‘hard’ lockdown have been forced back into their apartments after a spate of new coronavirus infections.

There are 237 COVID-19 cases linked to the Flemington and North Melbourne estates.

A woman living at 120 Racecourse Road, Flemington told AAP a family who tested positive for the virus before the five-day lockdown have since been seen outside their flat, mixing with others, going to McDonald’s and travelling to neighbouring Footscray.

She said a teenager in the family attends Al-Taqwa College, a large school in Truganina linked to a huge outbreak.

Victoria has recorded 273 new cases of #coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 3799. More information: https://t.co/QmsnsHRTDe#COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/T4chHxo1G3

— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) July 12, 2020

The woman says she saw health authorities speaking with the family on Friday night, reminding them to isolate at home.

The Department of Health and Human Services also called her on Friday to let her know she had been in close contact with a different resident who tested positive to the virus.

She was told to quarantine for two weeks.

The woman shares a small flat with her family and cannot isolate in her room, so she was told to wear a mask at all times, including when sleeping.

“Just thinking about it, I’m about to go crazy,” she said.

12 JULY 2020-C19, VIC

NOTE: Few changes to morning briefing. However, Melb & Flemington Towers now have 237 active cases.

CLUSTERS INCLUDE
Melb & Flemington Towers 237
Carlton Towers 28
Brunswick Private Hosp 11
The Alfred 8
Glendale, Aged Care, Essendon 12

5.10pm
2of2 pic.twitter.com/NzQZBvfk1Q

— Dr Mirella Sarah 🔎 (@Mirella_PhD) July 12, 2020

A young father in the same building received a positive test result on Friday, having waited to find out since his test on Monday.

By the time he received the result at midday, he had already left his apartment, spoke to police and fellow residents and bought a coffee.

He has shut himself in a bedroom, interacting with his wife and children via FaceTime.

The DDHS asked him to isolate in a hotel but he preferred to be at home.

The department declined to comment on specific cases for privacy reasons, but said there were strict procedures in place to protect the public when a person tests positive.

“All close contacts are identified and notified that they need to self-isolate and seek testing,” a spokesman said.

The Flemington building was one of nine public housing towers to be put into a strict lockdown from July 4 to 9.

To everyone who has been to get tested; to all the volunteers, healthcare workers and @DeptDefence deployees working at the testing sites; to the labs testing the samples; to everyone who has stayed at home while awaiting their results, we say thank you. (1/2) #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/h035B9eSpS

— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) July 12, 2020

Eight of the towers reverted to stage three restrictions on Thursday, while residents of Alfred Street, North Melbourne remain in self-quarantine.

Meanwhile, another 28 cases were recorded at a public housing tower in Carlton.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the pandemic had not yet reached its peak and authorities were throwing “absolutely everything at it”.

The state recorded 273 new cases on Sunday and another death.

There are now 1484 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, with 57 people currently in hospital with the virus and 16 of those in intensive care.

*The two residents who spoke to AAP did not wish to be named.

-AAP