By Luke Voogt
Geelong has recorded its first new COVID-19 case in almost three weeks, according to the latest statistics.
Greater Geelong had one active COVID-19 case, 67 in total, as of midnight on Saturday night, the Department of Health Human Services confirmed on Sunday.
Previously the city had recorded 66 cases since the pandemic began with the last active case confirmed on June 9.
The Surf Coast has not had a new, active case since April 9.
The department incorrectly reported a new case on June 17 in the shire, but the next day revised the number of active cases back to zero and the total back to nine.
The new case comes amid an alarming rise in cases in parts of Melbourne over the past week.
An increase of 41 before midnight on Saturday brought the Victorian total to 2028.
The department said 49 new cases were reported but eight cases were reclassified after further testing found these indeterminate results to be negative.
The Victorian Government has launched a blitz across 10 priority suburbs with a team of 800 testers to zero in on community transmission with a fleet of mobile vans.
Over the next week, residents of these suburbs will receive free testing – with or without symptoms.
These suburbs include Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham, with Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows.
