Coronavirus update for Victoria - 23 June 2020

The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1864, with 17 new cases reported yesterday.

Yesterday’s new cases are made up of two linked to outbreaks, three cases identified through routine testing, one case detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and 11 cases under investigation.

There have been no new deaths reported. To date, 19 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

There have been 233 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that have been acquired through unknown transmission. There are currently 131 active cases in Victoria.

Currently, nine people with coronavirus infection are in hospital, including three patients in intensive care. 1712 people have recovered from the virus.

Of the total 1864 cases, there have been 1568 in metropolitan Melbourne and 241 in regional Victoria. The total number of cases is made up of 992 men and 872 women. More than 675,000 tests have been processed to date.

Two primary schools will be closed after a student at each school tested positive for coronavirus. Both students were at school while infectious. Brunswick East Primary and Keilor View Primary School will conduct a deep clean of affected classrooms and common areas. Contact tracing is under way and testing will be undertaken as appropriate.

The Keilor View Primary student is one of two new cases yesterday linked to the Keilor Downs family outbreak, which now totals 13 people across eight households.

The other new case linked to this family outbreak has been found in a person who worked at the Coles Distribution Centre in Laverton while infectious last week. Close contacts have been identified and quarantined. The centre commenced a deep clean last night. Due to its size, regular cleaning measures and physical distancing, the risk of transmission is very low. The centre will be able to continue to operate with strict physical distancing to ensure safe food and grocery supply across the state.

Five members of one family household in the City of Maribyrnong have also tested positive. Contact tracing is underway and investigations are ongoing into the source of the infection in this household.

“We have made some great progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus, but we are still seeing new cases in the community,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said.

“This is the seventh 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.

“As a consequence, the Victorian Government has announced a tightening of the rules and has reduced the number of visitors you can have in your home to five. Outside of the home, people can now gather in groups of up to 10 only.

“This move is important to keeping our community safe and to ensure COVID-19 does not get away from us. We do not want Victoria to suffer like many major cities around the world who have been devastated by the severe impacts of COVID-19.

“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.

“It also 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.

“By practicing these common-sense behaviours we can help keep ourselves, our families and communities safe.”

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.