Coronavirus update for Victoria - 28 June 2020

The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 2028, with 49 new cases reported yesterday.

The overall total has increased by 41, with 8 cases reclassified after further testing found these indeterminate results to be negative.

Within Victoria, we are aware of four new cases linked to outbreaks and 26 new cases identified through routine testing. Meanwhile, there are 19 cases under investigation. No cases were detected in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

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

There have been 265 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that have been acquired through unknown transmission. There are currently 231 active cases in Victoria.

Currently, seven people with coronavirus infection are in hospital, including one patient in intensive care. 1775 people have recovered from the virus.

Of the total 2028 cases, there have been 1701 in metropolitan Melbourne and 246 in regional Victoria. The total number of cases includes 1071 men and 953 women. More than 776,000 tests have been processed to date.

Of today’s four identified cases linked to outbreaks, one is a household contact of a known case linked to a North Melbourne family outbreak, bringing the total in this outbreak to 21; one is a staff member from the Stamford Plaza Hotel, taking that outbreak total to 19; and one is a close contact of a known case in the Brimbank family outbreak, taking that total to six.

A new case has been linked to the outbreak at the Coles Chilled Distribution Centre in Laverton, taking the total to four. The case worked three days while infectious and further contact tracing is under way. The cases at Coles are part of the Keilor Downs family outbreak, which has 21 identified cases.

Ascot Vale Primary School and Essendon Keilor College, Essendon Campus, have each been notified that a student who attended last term while infectious has tested positive. Both students are linked to the Ascot Vale family cluster. The schools will undergo cleaning and contact tracing is under way.

A staff member in the emergency department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital has tested positive to COVID-19. The staff member performed duties in appropriate PPE and there is minimal risk of transmission. All close contacts have been identified and a deep clean of affected areas has been undertaken. There has been no disruption to services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The Victorian Government has launched a targeted blitz across 10 priority suburbs with a team of 800 testers to zero in on community transmission with a fleet of mobile vans. Over the next week, residents of these suburbs will receive free testing – with or without symptoms.

On the advice of the Chief Health Officer, priority suburbs include Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham, with Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows identified as the current focus of testing.

“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,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said.

“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.

“This is the eleventh 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.

“We have launched a targeted testing blitz across 10 priority suburbs and encourage locals in these areas – especially if you have symptoms – to come forward for testing and help us find and contain the virus.

“The Victorian Government has also 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.

“These moves are 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.”

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.