Geelong coronavirus cases have remained level as “a net increase of 20” state-wide brings the Victorian total to 1543.
Greater Geelong cases remained on 64 and Surf Coast cases on 10, with no active cases in either municipality, as of midnight yesterday, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
State-wide the department detected 21 cases but removed one from the overall total due to “reclassification”.
Of the new cases, six were detected among returned travellers in mandatory hotel quarantine, three were close contacts of known cases and nine remain under investigation.
Two of the new cases have been linked to the McDonald’s outbreak in Fawkner, taking the total of that cluster to ten.
One of the new cases has been linked to the outbreak at Cedar Meats, bring the total of that cluster to 91.
But despite the increase of 20, the department recorded a decrease of 10 in cases acquired through community transmission, bringing the total down to 154.
Community transmission is a case where authorities are unable to trace the source of infection.
The decrease meant the source of infection had been tracked down for another 10 cases “thanks to our ongoing investigation and contact tracing work”, the department said.
“Victoria has had four days without any growth in community transmission despite a significant increase in testing, which is a positive sign that the spread of the virus is slowing in the community.”
This week’s easing of stage 3 restrictions occurred “in recognition” of the low rate of community transmission, according to Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“While encouraging, we need to remain vigilant,” he said.
“We must maintain physical distancing, practice hygiene and [self-isolate] when ill.
“These are common sense actions to ensure we don’t create a second wave of this serious disease, as we have seen in other countries once they have relaxed their stringent regulations.”
The Victorian total of 1543 includes 818 males and 723 females, with cases ranging from infants to people in their 90s.
Eighteen people, aged from their 50s to 90s, have died from coronavirus in Victoria. More than 309,000 people have been tested to date.
“We are also asking Victorians to continue this amazing effort and get tested if they have symptoms,” Professor Sutton said.
“The more tests we do, the more data we have about the prevalence of coronavirus in the community.”
Currently nine people are in hospital, including seven patients in intensive care, while 1407 people have recovered.
Of the 1543 cases, 1277 have occurred in metropolitan Melbourne and 227 in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation.
