Coronavirus update for Victoria – 9 July 2021

Victoria was notified of one new case of COVID-19 yesterday in a recently returned international traveller in hotel quarantine. He is a man aged in his 20s.

There were no locally acquired cases notified yesterday.

This is the ninth day in a row of no new locally acquired cases in Victoria.

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

There were 21 active cases in Victoria – 3 are locally acquired and 18 are overseas acquired cases.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,719.

Updated restrictions in Victoria

Eased restrictions are now in place, effective from 11:59pm on Thursday 8 July.

More information can be found at While Risks Remain, Victoria Can Take Cautious Steps Ahead.

Update: Travel permits

The Acting Chief Health Officer has declared the following changes under Victoria’s travel permit system effective 11.59pm AEST Saturday 10 July:

• Northern Territory: Alice Springs and Greater Darwin - incorporating the City of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield – have changed from orange zones to green zones. The whole of Northern Territory is now a green zone.
• Queensland: The Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and regions of the Sunshine Coast have changed from red to orange zones.
• Queensland: The Local Government Areas of Townsville (including Magnetic Island), Palm Island, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Noosa, Scenic Rim and Somerset have changed from orange zones to green zones.
• Western Australia: The Perth Metropolitan Region and Peel Region in WA have changed from orange zones to green zones. The whole of Western Australia is now a green zone.

Existing red zone arrivals from areas that are now orange zones who have had a test since arriving in Victoria and have received a negative result no longer have to quarantine unless they have been in contact with a confirmed case or a known exposure site. If they haven't had a test since arriving back into Victoria, they must continue to isolate, get tested, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result.

Existing orange zone arrivals in Victoria from areas that are now green zones no longer have to quarantine or return a negative result.

All LGAs in Greater Sydney, including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and Wollongong, remain red zones effective 1:00am AEST Friday 25 June.

ACT and regional NSW (including the LGAs inside the NSW cross-border community) remain orange zones. The border bubble remains in effect.

Orange zone permit holders entering Victoria must isolate on arrival, get tested within 72 hours, and stay isolated until they get a negative result.

If you are a Victorian resident and obtain a red zone permit to enter Victoria, you must travel directly home and quarantine for 14 days. You must get tested within 72 hours of arrival and again on or around day 13 of quarantine.

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.

Victorian public health authorities continue to review our travel permit settings on a daily basis and the Acting Chief Health Officer advises strongly against non-essential travel to red or orange zones.

Given the escalating situation, if you are a Victorian resident currently in NSW, you should come home to Victoria as soon as you can.

Engagement teams, supported by Defence personnel, made 407 household visits yesterday, which included 328 red zone arrivals from New South Wales.

You must have a valid permit, exception or exemption to enter Victoria, even if entering from a green zone.

Permits can be obtained at Service Victoria. See more about Victoria's travel permit system at Victorian Travel Permit System.

Update: Outbreaks and cases

98 per cent of the Primary Close Contacts linked to the Sandringham cases have been cleared.

All cases and primary close contacts linked to the Southbank apartment complex outbreak have now been cleared.

Further clearances of contacts relating to the Virgin Airlines flight crew case are underway.

There are still some active exposure sites in Victoria. A full list of exposure sites is published at Case alerts - public exposure sites.

The Department also manages 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, or if they identify small, private locations.

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

Update: Vaccinations

Yesterday, 15,665 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.

The total number of doses administered through these services is 1,238,347.

More than 30,000 Pfizer second dose appointments are available online now for the next three-week period.

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.

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.

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.

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):