Seven new COVID-19 cases for Geelong and Surf Coast

A microscopic image of the coronavirus.

By Luke Voogt

Geelong and the Surf Coast have recorded seven new coronavirus cases this week, with the state total increasing by 156 to 3098.

Greater Geelong had six active cases as of midnight on Wednesday, bringing its total to 74 since the pandemic began, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The figure includes four new cases recorded yesterday, with two recorded earlier in the week.

Surf Coast Shire recorded one new active case this week, the first since April 10, according to the department.

One of the six Geelong cases was a Coles employee, the company confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.

The case occurred at Coles supermarket at 158-162a High Street, not at its Belmont Village supermarket, the company confirmed.

The department found the employee had not been in close contact with any other staff, Coles said.

A Rip Curl office employee also tested positive and six staff identified through contact tracing as coming into contact with them were now in self-isolation, the company said.

The infected employee last visited the Torquay office for a meeting on June 30.

Both companies said they conducted deep cleaning at the locations.

Rip Curl closed its Torquay office, while Coles said the department had cleared the Belmont supermarket to reopen.

Across Victoria 932 of the total 3098 cases were active and 477 had occurred through unknown transmission, as of midnight on Wednesday.

More than 40 people were in hospital after contracting the disease, including nine in intensive care, and 2142 have recovered.

More than 1,030,000 tests have been processed to date.

Victoria has recorded 165 new cases of coronavirus but reclassified nine cases – largely due to duplication, the department said.