Geelong tally increases but ‘no active cases’

A microscopic image of the coronavirus.

By Luke Voogt

Geelong still has no active COVID-19 cases despite the Department of Health and Human Services reassigning two cases to the city.

Greater Geelong cases rose to 66 with none active as a of midnight yesterday, while Surf Coast cases have remained level since April 10, according to the department.

The department has previously declined to comment on case numbers in specific local government areas.

“Data is continually analysed and clarified, so published numbers are always subject to change,” a department spokesperson said earlier this month.

“These changes in numbers can be for many reasons, including duplications and wrong postcodes recorded.”

Victorian cases increased by seven to 1580, including 837 males and 743 females.

The department recorded eight new cases in total but removed “one due to reclassification”.

Authorities linked another three cases to the Cedar Meats outbreak this week, including one case in the latest state-wide increase.

The department has linked 103 cases to the outbreak, including 64 staff and 39 cases “external to the facility”.

Two workers at Kyabram District Health Service tested positive as part its regular testing, according to the department.

“Neither healthcare worker has worked while infectious,” a department spokesperson said.

“A small number of staff must now self-isolate for 14 days – but at this stage there are no patients or residents who fit the close contact criteria.

“The cases were detected as a result of screening all dedicated residential aged care staff – including those on annual leave and days off – on Monday May 18.

“A total of 75 swabs were undertaken, with 73 returning negative results.”

One case was linked to a worker on a construction site at a school in Melbourne’s south-east, who was asymptomatic when tested. The remaining new cases are under investigation.

Currently 10 people are in hospital with coronavirus, including five patients in intensive care and 1465 people have recovered.

In Victoria 166 confirmed cases of coronavirus may have been acquired through community transmission, with 367,000 tests processed.

Of the 1580 cases, 1307 occurred in metropolitan Melbourne and 235 in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation.

To date 18 Victorians, aged from their 50s to 80s, have died after contracting coronavirus.