Coronavirus update for Victoria - 03 July 2020

The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 2368 with 66 new cases reported yesterday.

The overall total has increased by 65, with one case reclassified.

Within Victoria, 17 new cases are linked to outbreaks, 20 new cases have been identified through routine testing and 28 cases are under investigation. One new case has been detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

There have been no new deaths reported. To date, 20 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

There have been 363 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that have been acquired through an unknown source. There are currently 442 active cases in Victoria.

Currently, 23 people with coronavirus infection are in hospital, including six patients in intensive care. 1904 people have recovered from the virus.

Of the total 2368 cases, there have been 2022 in metropolitan Melbourne and 255 in regional Victoria. The total number of cases is made up of 1250 men and 1118 women. More than 880,000 tests have been processed to date.

Of the new cases linked to outbreaks:

• Three cases are linked to the Roxburgh Park family outbreak, bringing the total to 23 cases.
• Five cases are linked to Al-Taqwa College, bringing the total to 23. All staff and students have been quarantined and are being tested.
• One case is a student linked to Albanvale Primary School, bringing the total to 15.
• Three cases are linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak – two close contacts of a known case and one contracted security guard member who was already in quarantine – bringing the total to 35.
• One case is related to the Orygen Youth outbreak which now includes two healthcare workers and a close contact.
• One case is a childcare worker at Villa Bambini Essendon, bringing the total to 3.
• A new outbreak has been identified in North Melbourne, with one new case notified overnight. Through contact tracing, ten cases have now been linked to this outbreak, with multiple households involved. Further contact tracing, testing and deep cleaning is underway.
• A new outbreak has been linked to the Northern Hospital emergency department with two healthcare workers confirmed as positive cases. Contact tracing of staff and patients is underway. All emergency department staff will be tested as a precaution. The workers wore appropriate PPE during patient interactions on the shifts worked.

In other cases:

• One new case in a child who attended The Hive Early Learning Centre in Fairfield. Contact tracing and other appropriate public health actions are underway.

This is the seventeenth consecutive day of double-digit case growth in Victoria, with a continuing and concerning number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families.

The Victorian Government has announced targeted restrictions for a number of Melbourne suburbs in 10 postcodes that have experienced a spike in positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The restricted postcodes are 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060 and 3064.

These postcodes must follow the Stay at Home directions until 29 July 2020.

People who live in these restricted postcodes are only allowed to go out for four reasons: shopping for food and supplies, medical care and caregiving – including to be tested for COVID-19, exercise and study or work – if unable to work or study from home.

For people living outside these restricted postcodes, there are only four reasons to go into those postcodes: shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise and study or work.

People who live in these postcodes cannot have visitors to their home, or visit other homes, except for caregiving or compassionate reasons, or receiving services.

Businesses and facilities in these postcodes that have reopened will again be restricted. Cafes and restaurants will only be able to open for take-away and delivery services.

“Victorians in these locked down suburbs are being urged to do their bit in the fight against coronavirus – stick to the rules and get to a testing station,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said.

“This virus is not selective, it will impact anyone it encounters, and personal contact is the clear source of its transmission. More than 300,000 people live across these suburbs. We need everyone to do their part and ensure it is stopped in its tracks.

“There is no excuse for not getting tested. We have people knocking on your door, coming to your neighbourhood – we are bringing the testing to you. There are also several drive-through and fixed sites where people can go.

“And no matter where you live, it remains critical to practice good hygiene in and outside the home – wash your hands regularly, cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and try to avoid touching your face,

“Stay 1.5 metres away from anyone you don’t live with and avoid crowds, especially indoors. If you can keep working from home – you must keep working from home.

“We have made some great progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus, but we are still seeing new cases in the community.

“Don’t take this disease lightly. if you feel unwell with any symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you should stay home and get tested.

“If you have any fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, and loss of sense of smell or taste - stay home, don’t go in to work and don’t visit friends and family. Get tested and stay at home until you get the result.”

Media inquiries:

Department of Health & Human Services Media Unit (03) 9096 8860 or press@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Cases by Local Government Area

Please find the latest COVID-19 notifications by local government areas below.

Note:

• Residential location is the residential address provided when the case is notified.
• This is not where they were infected and may not be where the case currently resides.
• Numbers are correct as of 11.59pm last night but are subject to change as cases are followed up and data is analysed.
• The last column shows the number of current active cases in an LGA. Active cases are defined as someone who has tested positive, is currently in isolation and being monitored by the Department and who has not yet recovered.

Confirmed cases by LGA 03/07/2020