Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state will press on with its plans to further ease coronavirus restrictions next week, despite an apparent increase in community transmission of COVID-19.
Key points:
- The Premier says the number of new cases is a reminder the pandemic is "far from over"
- Two childcare centres in Melbourne are closed after unrelated positive cases attended while infectious
- Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says a third Black Lives Matter protester was not infectious at the rally
The state has recorded a further 18 new cases, including a third Black Lives Matter protester and a "very young child" who attended a childcare centre while infectious.
Mr Andrews said health officials believed the state could continue to "slowly, cautiously, safely" reopen, but reminded people to adhere to social distancing measures.
"Today's numbers and yesterday numbers are a timely reminder, if anyone needed that, that this is far from over," he said.
The jump in cases comes after Victoria yesterday recorded its largest single-day increase in infections in over a month.
Yesterday's increase of 21 was the state's highest since May 15, but included 15 returned travellers.
The Premier said there were no plans to delay the further easing of restrictions planned for June 22, but said officials would review restrictions every day.
"It's all based on what the virus is doing in the Victorian community, how much community transmission there is, how confident we are that a second wave can be avoided," he said.
"And at this stage, we remain confident of that. But we're going to keep working hard to make sure that everything we do minimises the chances of a second wave."
Two childcare centres close after positive tests
Of the 18 new cases recorded overnight, six were returned travellers in hotel quarantine and three were under investigation, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters this morning.
Ms Mikakos said it was "not clear at this point" where the Black Lives Matter demonstrator contracted the virus, but said they were not infectious at the rally.
However the Minister said the protester was infectious while working two days at an H&M store at Northland shopping centre in Preston.
The store has been closed for cleaning.
She said the demonstrator attended the protests with a group of friends and all would be tested for COVID-19.
One of the new cases was a childcare worker at an early learning centre in Pakenham who went to work for one day while infectious, Ms Mikakos said.
The Health Minister said another new case was a "very young child" who was diagnosed through routine testing, and attended Guardian Childcare and Education in Prahran for one day during their infectious period.
Both those early learning centres will be closed today for contact tracing and cleaning.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTE4L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNhc2VzLWluLXZpY3RvcmlhLWNsaW1iLWJsbS1wcm90ZXN0ZXItcG9zaXRpdmUvMTIzNjgwMDDSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTIzNjgwMDA?oc=5
2020-06-18 03:34:27Z
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