Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER

Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER
HomeNewsNo local cases as numbers explode state-wide

No local cases as numbers explode state-wide

Geelong and the Surf Coast have recorded no new cases of COVID-19, according to the latest figures.

Greater Geelong’s last confirmed COVID-19 case was on June 9 while the Surf Coast Shire has not had a new confirmed case since April 10.

But an increase of 33 cases state-wide on Wednesday, the largest in two months, prompted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today to announce a testing blitz in 10 Melbourne suburbs.

The 33 new cases included 10 returned travellers, nine linked to outbreaks, six from routine testing and eight still under investigation, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said it was the ninth consecutive day the state had recorded double-digit case growth with a concerning number of transmissions in households and families.

The increase brought the total number of cases state-wide to 1917, with seven people in hospital, including two in intensive care.

Twenty Victorians have died after contracting COVID-19, according to the department.

Mr Andrews today announced a suburban “blitz” that would aim to complete 100,000 tests across 10 Melbourne hotspots to zero in on community transmission.

The blitz would target Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham, he said.

Mr Andrews said 800 health workers would aim to test 10,000 people a day in those 10 suburbs.

Of the total 1917 cases, 1602 have occurred in metropolitan Melbourne and 241 in regional Victoria, including 1021 men and 896 women.

More than 716,000 tests have been processed to date.

Digital Edition
Subscribe

Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription

From the archives

18 years ago 29 February, 2008 Police hope to find clues to unsolved crimes after authorities hauled 20 dumped cars out of the Barwon River yesterday. A...
More News

World-class talent on show

Indian and American artist ganavya (aka Ganavya Doraiswamy) has been hailed as a vibrant new voice in modern music, blending spiritual jazz with Indian...

Geelong active play program funded

Registered charity NeuroThrive has received $24,000 in funding from the Victorian government’s $40 million All Abilities Sport Fund to provide a new, free active...

Transforming with yEAH/dUNNO

Jon Campbell’s yEAH/dUNNO exhibition opens today (28 February) at Geelong Gallery, bringing together a selection of the artist’s works from over four decades. ...

Community calendar

Book sale Uniting Grovedale book sale, Uniting Grovedale, 272 Torquay R, 6 & 7 March, 10am-2pm. All books $1, children’s books 50 cents. Bellydance classes Beginner level,...

Families March On

A Highton husband and wife team will March On for veteran mental health, in honour of their daughter currently serving in the Australian army....

Youth and experience collide

Two of the blues’ finest exponents return to the Bellarine this weekend almost exactly 12 months after their first visit together in 2025. Internationally acclaimed...

Lois keeps on dancing

North Geelong resident Lois Pearce is looking forward to cutting a rug at the Leopold Hall for her birthday this year. Having been involved in...

Launching comedy’s next stars

Dylan McBurney is the founder and executive producer of a national program helping young comedians launch their careers. They spoke to Matt Hewson about...

Amber squats for research

Rippleside’s Amber Ashby is doing what she can to support others going through breast cancer following her own diagnosis two years ago. ...

Many cultures, one street

Victoria’s premier multicultural festival is back for its 44th year. This Saturday 28 February, Cultura’s 2026 Pako Festa will once again transform Pakington Street into...