Coronavirus update for Victoria - 25 June 2021

Victoria was notified of two new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

Both cases are linked to the new Sandringham workplace outbreak. The first case recently visited Sydney and the second case is a workplace colleague.

There were no new cases in returned international travellers in hotel quarantine.

There were four COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria yesterday.

There were 49 active cases in Victoria – 22 are locally acquired and 27 are overseas acquired cases.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,702.

Further easing of restrictions

From 11.59pm on Thursday 24 June, restrictions have further eased on the advice of the Chief Health Officer.

More information can be found in the Premier's statement.

Update: Outbreaks

Genomic testing has confirmed the two Sandringham cases are the Delta variant of the virus, with strong genomic links to the current NSW outbreak.

Yesterday’s two reported cases are in isolation in hotel quarantine and are being supported.

Interviews with the two cases have identified a number of exposure sites including Jetstar flight JQ523 that departed Sydney at 5.30pm on Sunday evening, Melbourne Airport Terminal 4, public transport trips on the bus and train network and a number of retail stores in Black Rock, Burwood East, Forest Hill, Oakleigh and Sandringham.

The first case attended a social event in West Hoxton, Sydney, last Saturday. That area of Sydney was a green zone at the time.

Public health services were onsite last night at the residential apartment complex in Oakleigh where the case lives. Contact was made with all residents to inform them about the situation and to ensure they remain in isolation and get tested as quickly as possible today.

The second case, a workplace contact of the first case, got tested yesterday and received a positive result yesterday afternoon. His family has been isolated and have tested negative. The business was closed yesterday for deep cleaning.

Passengers from the Jetstar flight and other members of the public identified through QR code data from the exposure sites are being contacted by public health officials with advice.

If any other exposure sites are identified linked to this case, they will be published on the Department’s exposure site webpage at Case alerts - public exposure sites.

Victorians are urged to regularly check the Coronavirus website and view the exposure sites.

Additional testing sites, greater capacity and extended opening hours have been established to support testing in the local Oakleigh and Sandringham areas at:

• Monash Health Clayton drive through from 9am
• Peterson Youth Centre, Highett from 9am
• Brighton Golf Club, 230 Dendy Street, Brighton, from 11.30am

In addition, Sandringham Hospital and 4cyte Bentleigh East and Dandenong are all extending their operating hours so that anyone who needs to get tested, can get tested today.

Victoria’s other outbreaks continue to stabilise.

Anyone who has visited an exposure site during the specified dates and times must follow the advice listed.

The Department also manages a number of exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact tracing measures in place, or if they identify small, private locations.

Exposure sites are regularly reviewed based on intelligence and evidence, following case interviews.

Update: New red zone restrictions in NSW

The following areas are now red zones under Victoria’s Travel Permit System, effective from 1:00am this morning, Friday 25 June:

• Greater Sydney, including Central Coast and Blue Mountains
• Wollongong, including Shellharbour

All areas in Greater Sydney including Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong have been declared an orange zone retrospectively between 11 June and the time they became a red zone.

Last night more than 13,000 SMS messages were sent to individuals who arrived in Victoria between 11 June and 25 June who had previously been considered “green zone” arrivals. They have been asked to isolate and test until they get a negative result.

If you have been to a high-risk exposure site in NSW requiring you to quarantine for 14 days, you cannot enter Victoria.

If you are a Victorian resident and have been in a red zone since current red zones came into effect, other than for transit, you can obtain a red zone permit to enter Victoria but you will be required to quarantine at home for 14 days and get tested.

If you are a non-Victorian resident and you have been in a red zone since current red zones came into effect, other than for transit, you cannot obtain a permit and you cannot enter Victoria unless you have an exception or exemption.

You must have a valid permit, exception or exemption to enter Victoria.

If you try to enter Victoria at a land border from a red zone without a permit, you will be sent back.

If you enter at an airport or seaport from a red zone without a permit, you will be fined and you will stay in Hotel Quarantine until return transport is arranged.

There are more than 100 authorised officers at Melbourne Airport and relevant regional airports meeting all arriving Sydney flights.

Of the 21 flights that landed in Victoria from NSW in the 24-hour period to 3pm yesterday, all 2335 passengers were screened.

A total of 380 orange and red zone arrivals were recorded that included 364 red zone permits, 12 orange permits and three transit permits.

Three red zone arrivals were non-Victoria residents who are ineligible to enter Victoria. They were placed on a return flight to Sydney.

As the school holidays begin, we are asking all individuals to do the right thing and follow the rules that are in place. You should not be travelling to a red zone in New South Wales.

If you are travelling, get the right permits in place as you will be screened on arrival and returned home if necessary.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should not be travelling. You should be isolating and getting tested.

All arrivals into Victoria must apply for a travel permit even if they are entering from a green zone. Permits can be obtained at Service Victoria. Permit checks by authorised officers are in place for relevant arriving flights at Victoria’s airports.

NSW Health has published a list of exposure sites online.

Queensland Health has published a list of exposure sites online.

If you are in Victoria and have been to these locations in the specified times, follow the listed advice and contact us on 1300 651 160.

The Acting Chief Health Officer continues to closely monitor the situation in NSW and Queensland, with further updates made as needed.

Update: Vaccinations

Yesterday, 18,019 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.

This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered at state-commissioned services to 986,341.

Victoria’s online booking system is now live at Book your vaccine appointment or you can ring the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Information about Victoria’s vaccination centres can be found at Vaccination centres.

Update: Testing

In another solid day of testing, 21,991 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.

The Department publishes expected wait times at testing sites as well as updated information about locations and hours of operation at Where to get tested.

General advice

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If you are experiencing symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.

For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria.

Latest statewide numbers (data reported to 11:59pm yesterday):