Coronavirus update for Victoria – 30 July 2021

Victoria was notified of three new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All were locally acquired cases.

There are 200 active cases in Victoria – 190 locally acquired and 10 overseas acquired cases.

There are six COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. Two cases are in intensive care (including one case on a ventilator).

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,942.

Update: Current restrictions

Restrictions were eased at 11.59pm on Tuesday 27 July. For more information on the latest COVIDSafe settings, visit COVIDSafe Settings.

Update: Outbreaks

There were three locally acquired cases yesterday

All cases are linked to known outbreaks and have been in quarantine throughout their infectious periods. No new exposure sites have been generated from these new cases.

Of the new cases:

One case is a close contact of the Trinity Grammar outbreak who was in quarantine on Phillip Island.

One is a close contact at the Isola apartment complex in Burnley

One is a household contact of a positive case in a student linked to the Bacchus Marsh Grammar School.

Public health officials continue to investigate the positive case who worked at the Moonee Valley testing site. Genomic testing has linked this case to the current Delta variant outbreaks but the source of infection is still not known. The case’s work colleagues and household contacts are being tested. Residents in the Newport apartment complex that the case visited have been contacted and all primary close contacts within the building have been tested.

Testing and support for the 500 residents of the Lacrosse Apartments in Docklands continues. These residents are isolating for 14 days and are being supported with food pick-up and other deliveries.

Following a detailed risk assessment undertaken yesterday by public health officials, specific advice has been given to the residents of the Balmoral Apartment Complex in Hawthorn. A small group of apartments has been designated a Tier 1 exposure site due to a shared stairwell while other parts of the complex have been designated Tier 2 and Tier 3 exposure sites. No positive cases are present in the building.

There are currently just over 8500 Victorians still isolating as primary close contacts. Public health officials continue their work to clear primary close contacts as they end their period of isolation. More than 4200 primary close contacts were cleared yesterday and more than 10,000 have been cleared in the past three days. Close to 19,000 primary close contacts have been cleared since the current outbreak started.

The Department reminds primary close contacts that a negative Day 13 test result is a requirement for clearance from quarantine. Clearance is formally provided by the Department in writing, following a phone call.

Household engagement teams, supported by 100 police officers this week, continue to visit homes across Victoria to ensure that people are isolating correctly and are well supported. Yesterday was another record day for household visits with 1157 visits undertaken.

A full list of current exposure sites can be seen at Case alerts -public exposure sites.

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

We continue to ask every Victorian to check exposure sites regularly, as they are subject to change based on follow-up interviews and further investigation.

Visiting Victoria’s alpine resorts

For people travelling to Victoria’s alpine ski resorts, you can only enter these areas if you have received a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of departing for the snowfields.

All visitors aged 12 years and over are required to be tested. If you cannot provide evidence of a negative test result, you will not be let in.

Anyone who lives within an alpine resort is exempt from this testing requirement.

People who work in an alpine resort but live elsewhere need to have proof of a negative COVID-19 test once every seven days.

We are seeing significant demand at our regional testing centres so we encourage all visitors to the alpine resorts to get a COVID-19 test near your home before you travel.

International experience has shown us there is a higher risk of spread of this virus in cold climates so these rules have been put in place to protect people and so we can keep our alpine resorts safe and operating for the snow season.

Update: New COVID-19 wastewater detections

There have been new wastewater detections in the east and west of Melbourne. They may be due to someone who has had COVID-19, is no longer infectious and is continuing to shed the virus – or it may be due to an active but undiagnosed case in that area.

COVID-19 fragments have been detected in wastewater in the Caroline Springs area.

Suburbs in the catchment include Albanvale, Burnside, Burnside Heights, Caroline Springs, Deer Park, Delahey, Hillside (Melton), Keilor Downs, Kings Park, Plumpton, Sydenham, Taylors Hill and Taylors Lakes.

Anyone who lives, works or has visited the above suburbs between 26-28 July is urged to watch for the slightest of COVID-19 symptoms and get tested as soon as possible if any symptoms develop.

There have also been follow-up positive detections of COVID-19 fragments in the Camberwell area.

Suburbs in the catchment include Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills.

Anyone who lives, works or has visited Camberwell and the above surrounding suburbs between 26-29 July is urged to get tested should they get even the slightest of COVID-19 symptoms.

The wastewater testing program is designed as an early warning system and a cautious approach is always taken when these detections are found.

Recent wastewater detections at Docklands and at Phillip Island have provided early warning of positive cases in those areas that were detected in the past week.

The Department of Health has increased wastewater testing in the areas listed above and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

More information is available at Wastewater testing.

Update: Vaccinations

Yesterday, 19,136 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.

The total number of doses administered through these services is 1,610,095.

Every week, more appointments are being opened up at state clinics across Victoria and people who are eligible to be vaccinated are encouraged to plan ahead and book as soon as they can.

The Commonwealth Government recently announced that people who are pregnant and aged 16 years and over are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended the Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.

There are now 50 open access vaccination centres operating across Victoria and in the coming weeks and months there will be more pop-up community vaccination clinics in operation.

Victoria’s online booking system is now live at Book your vaccineappointment 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 strong day of testing, 43,542 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.

In response to the current cases in Victoria, extended operating hours have been introduced at multiple testing sites.

See new and extended testing sites, where to get tested and expected wait times at Where to get tested.

Update: Advice for household contacts of a Primary Close Contact

Information is available online for people who are household contacts of a Primary Close Contact.

View more at What to do if you’re a household contact of a close contact.

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):