Coles, ALDI and Woolworths supermarkets are the focus of the investigation as there is an increase in the spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in both states - partially attributed to the supermarkets
NSW recorded more than 1500 cases on Saturday, while Victorian case numbers have hovered around the 200 case mark since Friday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said while workplaces and households remained the main locations of the virus spreading in her state, supermarkets were emerging as a growing source of transmission.
“We are now noticing workers and patrons are picking up the disease (at retail outlets) and taking it home to their families,” Ms Berejiklian said.
NSW Health was forced into its own social media campaign, saying rumors that supermarkets were going to be forced to close for four days were completely false.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said CCTV cameras were being used by the Victorian case-tracing teams in Melbourne to link positive cases to people who have been at the same supermarkets.
“While supermarkets are generally not high-risk, they are high volume sites for coronavirus contacts,” he said.
Prof Sutton said on Saturday shoppers incorrectly wearing masks and not sanitising looked to be responsible for at least some of the cases recorded in the recent Victorian surge.
“Wearing your mask down around your chin does nothing. We have been able to identify linked cases through CCTV vision where the virus has been spread through people simply being at the same checkout,” he said.
Prof Sutton has urged shoppers to use click-and-collect services to get food and essential goods, pointing to supermarkets as a concern for the increase in associated cases.
Victoria recorded 209 cases on Friday, then 190 and 183 during the weekend.
The proximity of the Shepparton cluster to the Campaspe region is a constant threat, with six of the 183 cases from yesterday adding to the total for the Goulburn Valley capital.
There have now been more than 110 cases connected to the Shepparton outbreak.
Positive news came in the vaccination rates of the state, with 60 per cent of the state's population now having had their first dose.
Within two weeks, before the Victorian Government's estimated September 23 timeline, the state is expected to hit the 70 per cent mark.
In NSW a significant milestone was reached on Sunday morning when the state announced 40 per cent of the state's population was fully vaccinated.
More than 72 per cent of people have had at least one dose and if current vaccination levels continue the state could reduce restrictions earlier than anticipated.
While the supermarkets suffer the ire of the state's health boss, tomorrow (September 7) is the launch of the priority vaccination program for Year 12 students and their teachers.
The priority jabs start on September 7 and the program will be available to the students and teachers until Friday, September 17.
Students will be given priority booking access at the state-run clinics, as will their teachers and examiners.
They will still be required to book an appointment, which they can do from today (September 6).
The Department of Education and Department of Health are working directly with schools, students and parents to provide advice on how to arrange a booking through their schools.
