Victoria has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday.
This is the seventh day in a row that Victoria has recorded no new cases of COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 cases now linked to the Holiday Inn remains at 24.
There are five active cases in Victoria, made up of five locally acquired cases, a decrease of two since yesterday, and zero overseas acquired cases, unchanged since yesterday.
There is one COVID-19 patient in hospital in Victoria.
The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,481.
Update: Vaccinations
A total of 2,262 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered yesterday at hospital vaccination hubs across Victoria.
This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered in Victoria since the program started on Monday 22 February to 10,907.
The first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have started to arrive at Victoria’s hospital vaccination hubs, with 50,800 doses provided by the Commonwealth initially.
As part of a staged approach, Victorian health services will start administering this safe, effective and free vaccine from the beginning of next week.
More details will be provided shortly as arrangements with the Commonwealth are finalised.
Update: Viral fragments detected in wastewater
Alerts issued this week about recent COVID-19 wastewater detections are still current.
Anyone with even mild COVID-19 symptoms are urged to get tested, including residents and recent visitors to the following areas.
- Werribee, Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing from 23 to 25 February 2021
- Lilydale, Chirnside Park, Coldstream, Kalorama, Olinda, Montrose, Mt Dandenong, Mt Evelyn, Yarra Glen and Yering from 23 February to 25 February 2021
- Taylors Hill, Plumpton, Hillside, Sydenham, Delahey, Caroline Springs, Burnside Heights, Kings Park, Albanvale, Burnside and Deer Park from 20 to 22 February 2021.
Wastewater monitoring is now undertaken at 142 locations across Victoria including 71 wastewater treatment plants and 71 sites within Melbourne metropolitan sewage networks.
Fragments of the virus detected in wastewater may be due to a person with COVID-19 being in the early active infectious phase or it could be because someone is continuing to shed the virus after the early infectious period.
Further information about the wastewater testing program.
Victoria’s wastewater surveillance research wins award
Victoria’s involvement in national research into the presence in wastewater of the virus that causes COVID-19 has won a 2020/21 Victorian Water Award.
Victoria’s rapid development and implementation of wastewater surveillance as part of the Collaboration on Sewage Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 ( ) project was recognised with the Research & Development Excellence Award.
The Victorian Department of Health’s Water Unit was one of the first groups to spot the potential for wastewater surveillance as part of the COVID-19 response. It has worked with academics, water utilities and other agencies to develop and validate test methods for detecting viral fragments in wastewater, determine how to best collect samples, and assist public health decision makers interpret test results and take appropriate action.
The program is now fully integrated into the department’s COVID-19 response with Victoria with 142 monitoring sites – the most intensive sampling program in Australia.
The award, presented by the Victorian Branch of the Australian Water Association, is shared with the Victorian Department of Health, Water Research Australia and Victoria’s water utility partners.
General advice
Coronavirus (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 any symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.
All current exposure sites can be seen at Case locations and outbreaks.
Travel permit applications can be made through the Service Victoria .
For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) .
Latest statewide numbers (data reported to 11:59 pm yesterday):
| Cases acquired locally | Cases acquired interstate | Cases acquired overseas | Active cases | Lives lost | Tests processed yesterday | Total tests since pandemic began |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 19,846 | 5,038,743 |
Number of permits issued (Jan 11 - midday today) | Number of permit applications processed in the past 24 hours | Average # of permits issued per minute in the past 24 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 936,459 | 20,087 | 13.9 |
Reviewed 04 March 2021