Children's cancer ward locked down after being exposed to COVID-19

The Royal Children's Hospital's cancer ward has been declared a Tier One exposure site after a parent infected with COVID-19 attended several days ago.

The Melbourne hospital's chief executive Bernadette McDonald said the hospital had been trying to strike a balance between limiting exposure to COVID-19 while allowing visitors for the children.

"We are finding a balance between allowing mums and dads and carers to come in - just a single person with a child - so that their care is maximised and they feel less anxious when they have someone with then," she said.

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"We have very clear screening processes in is place. Sometimes mum and dad have been in and then become COVID positive a few days later," she said.

Ms McDonald said every exposure site at a hospital was concerning, but it was known that COVID-19 was not as extreme in children.

"We are not seeing the extreme illness in children," she said.

Separate to the exposure, Ms McDonald said the hospital was caring for 12 children with COVID-19.

Four of them are in the hospital, while eight are being treated in at-home care.

Ms McDonald said the hospital was experienced in managing COVID-19 exposure sites.

"We have been dealing with them for quite some time. Sadly we will continue to deal with them as we go into the future, as the number of COVID positive people in the community increases."

With the cancer ward being a Tier One exposure site, patients and carers are expected to be bound to the ward for 14 days from the date of exposure.