Coronavirus update for Victoria – 9 April 2021

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus since yesterday.

This is the 42^nd day in a row that Victoria has recorded no locally acquired cases.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,484.

Update: Vaccinations

A total of 6057 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered yesterday by state commissioned services across Victoria. This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered by the Department as of yesterday to 137,320.

This morning, the Department of Health released a statement in light of recommendations made by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

In addition to this statement, the Department of Health has written to health services again today to advise the following:

• In line with ATAGI’s recommendations, health services are encouraged to contact eligible persons under 50 years who are currently booked to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine between now and Monday 12 April 2020 and offer to reschedule their appointment unless they can offer a Pfizer vaccine.

• Until updated consent forms and consumer information are available from the Commonwealth Department of Health, and immunisation teams have been familiarised with these materials, it is advised that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is not administered to eligible persons aged under 50 years..

• When consent forms and consumer information from the Commonwealth are available, eligible persons for whom the benefits of protection against COVID-19 are likely to outweigh the risks of the side effect and who provide informed consent can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Appointments should not proceed until these resources are provided.

• Eligible persons who are booked to receive their second dose of AstraZeneca, including people aged under 50 years, with no major adverse reaction, should receive their second dose as planned. This is safe and is recommended by ATAGI.

This is a dynamic situation and advice can change based on new information.

Health services are working hard to implement ATAGI’s recommendations.

We thank individuals with scheduled appointments who are affected by these recommendations for their patience and understanding.

Update: Viral fragments detected in south-east wastewater catchment

As reported yesterday, fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been recently detected in wastewater samples taken from a sewer catchment in Melbourne’s south east.

Anyone with even mild COVID-19 symptoms is urged to get tested, especially people who live in or have visited these areas from 4 to 6 April:

• Clayton, Clayton South, Dingley Village, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Springvale, Springvale South and Wheelers Hill.

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 infectious period.

For further information about the wastewater testing program visit Wastewater testing.

Travel permit zones

The Greater Brisbane area (City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region and Redlands City) remains designated an orange zone under Victoria’s travel permit system.

Byron Shire in NSW and Gladstone Region in Queensland also remain orange zones.

For more information about Victoria’s travel permit system, visit Victorian Travel Permit System. To apply for a permit, visit Service Victoria.

The Chief Health Officer will continue monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as needed.

Travel advice

Non-essential travel to orange zones remains discouraged.

Everyone planning an interstate trip should be aware of our travel permit system, and what it will mean for you and your family if you’re in a location that gets designated an orange or a red zone.

Victorians know that this virus can move rapidly. We make decisions based on public health advice and sometimes that advice must be implemented quickly.

Exposure sites in NSW and Queensland

Queensland Health and NSW Health publish lists on their websites of high-risk exposure sites recently visited by positive COVID-19 cases.

Please view these websites and check them regularly to see if you have attended any exposure sites at the specified dates and times. If you visited any of these venues during the relevant times, please immediately self-isolate and call the Victorian Department of Health on 1300 651 160.

• NSW Health
• Queensland Health

If you have attended a high-risk exposure site, you cannot apply for a travel permit and must instead apply for an exemption. Exemptions are limited and will only be granted in special cases.

Close contacts from Queensland and NSW now in Victoria

We continue to work with primary close contacts associated with exposure sites. Only negative results have been received so far.

All are being supported to quarantine for 14 days following their exposure.

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.

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

There are no current active exposure sites in Victoria. A list of Victorian exposure sites is published at Case alerts - public exposure sites.

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):