Coronavirus update for Victoria - 14 May 2020

The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1523, an increase of nine since yesterday.

There were no new deaths reported. To date, 18 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

There have been 164 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently nine people are in hospital, including six patients in intensive care. 1385 people have recovered.

Of the total 1523 cases, there have been 1259 in metropolitan Melbourne and 226 in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation. The total number of cases is made up of 806 men and 717 women.

More than 289,000 tests have been processed to date.

Of the nine new cases, three were detected among returned travellers in mandatory hotel quarantine, five through outbreak investigation, and one through testing by a doctor.

Two of the new cases have been linked to the McDonald’s Restaurant outbreak in Fawkner, taking the total number of cases in this outbreak to eight. More than 90 employees have been tested as a precaution. Following the department’s advice, McDonald’s closed the restaurant and undertook a deep clean. All close contacts of confirmed cases have been contacted by the department and will remain in quarantine for 14 days.

Three of the new cases have been linked to the outbreak at a Melbourne meat processing facility. One case initially linked to the outbreak has been reclassified following further investigation. The total number of cases currently linked to this outbreak is 90.

The department is working closely with the company, which agreed to close their facility for 14 days as a precaution to ensure all required steps are taken - including thorough contact tracing, identifying all close contacts, widespread testing and precautionary cleaning.

“Today’s increase in cases illustrates once again that while we have been flattening the curve, our battle against COVID-19 is far from over,” said Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton.

“Restrictions around some activities have now been relaxed in Victoria in recognition of the current low rate of community transmission of this virus – and it’s positive to see there are no new cases of community transmission today.”

“While encouraging, we need to remain vigilant. We must maintain physical distancing, practice hygiene and self-isolation when ill. These are commonsense actions to ensure we don’t create a second wave of this serious disease, as we have seen in other countries once they have relaxed their stringent regulations.

“Victorians have done a remarkable job so far sticking to the coronavirus restrictions and staying at home has saved lives. But now is not the time for complacency.

“We are also asking Victorians to continue this amazing effort and get tested if they have symptoms, because the more tests we do, the more data we have about the prevalence of coronavirus in the community.

“People with common symptoms of coronavirus including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of sense of smell – however mild – are encouraged to get tested.”

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.

*Four cases in this LGA initially returned a positive result but were subject to further testing and subsequently returned negative results