A sex worker in Melbourne's southeast suburbs has tested positive for COVID-19.
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The St Kilda woman tested positive for the virus after presenting at an emergency department in recent days.
"I stress there is no evidence of transmission having occurred because of this person's sex work occupation," Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters on Wednesday.
"But out of caution, we are asking that if you have employed a sex worker in the St Kilda area, you need to come forward and get tested, no matter where you are."
A close contact of the woman has also tested positive for COVID-19. It is not known how the duo contracted the virus.
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar says several other close contacts of the sex worker have been tested, including 75 per cent of residents of a social housing complex where she lives, and they have returned negative results.
The remaining residents will receive their test results on Wednesday.
Authorities have been urging anyone with COVID-19 symptoms in the Bayside, Glen Eira and Port Phillip areas to come forward for testing, due to the emergence of infections in the area that cannot be linked to known outbreaks.
There are 15 infections linked to St Kilda, six of which are being treated as mystery cases.
An illegal engagement party held in St Kilda East last week has contributed to some of the spread, but Mr Weimar says there is no connection between the cases apart from geography.
"We have within that cluster accountants, we have architects, we have a sex worker, we have members of the Orthodox Jewish community and a pizza guy who works in a pizza shop," he said.
"The only thing that connects them at this point in time is some association, particularly in that St Kilda area."
Contact tracers believe they are yet to identify the index case in the outbreak, Mr Weimar says.
A drive-through and walk-up testing centre has been set up at the St Kilda Palais Theatre car park.
Meanwhile, the state government has launched a new ad campaign urging people with cold and flu symptoms to get tested for COVID-19.
According to new data, many people still assume that their cold and flu symptoms are not related to COVID-19 and less than half the number of people who experience such symptoms get tested.
Victoria recorded 24 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, including four cases under investigation.
Eighteen were in isolation for their entire infectious period.
Of the 246 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, 56 are aged nine or under and 55 are aged between 10 and 19.
A child under 10, who was battling the virus in hospital, has been discharged.
Twelve people with COVID-19 remain in hospital, including a person aged in their 20s and a person aged in their 40s in intensive care.
Melbourne is 13 days into its sixth lockdown, which was extended on Monday until September 2.
Australian Associated Press