Victoria is experiencing a "concerning" upward trend in coronavirus infections, with 75 new cases identified overnight.
The state's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the latest cases were "overwhelmingly concentrated" in 10 Melbourne suburbs identified as community transmission hotspots.
"Obviously we are concerned by the increasing number and the upward trend and are monitoring the situation very closely," Ms Mikakos said.
Ms Mikakos said the 75 cases could be broken down into the following categories:
- One case is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine
- 14 cases are linked to outbreaks (positive results in those tested as close contacts of existing cases)
- 37 cases were detected through routine testing (people presenting to general testing sites set up by health authorities)
- 23 cases are still under investigation (cases which came in late in the reporting day and are yet to be investigated and allocated to another category)
The total number of cases in Victoria since the pandemic began now stands at 2,099.
"We've got many cases across the inner-northern suburbs and the western suburbs of Melbourne, but not exclusively," Ms Mikakos said.
"And it's important to reiterate to the community that you are not immune from catching coronavirus by virtue of the postcode that you live in."
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said nothing was "off the table" in terms of getting the outbreak under control.
"I think it will get worse before it gets better," he said.
"It is a concerning number. But it is very hard to make reductions in this space."
Hotel cluster at Stamford Plaza grows to 23
Ms Mikakos said health authorities had discovered a link between the northern Melbourne family outbreak, also known as the H&M outbreak, and the Brimbank family outbreak.
Four new cases are linked to that outbreak and health authorities are investigating, Ms Mikakos said.
Three cases were detected in security staff from the Stamford Plaza in Melbourne's CBD, all of whom were already in quarantine.
It takes the total number of cases linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak to 23.
On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews said the outbreak at the hotel may be linked to staff who shared a cigarette lighter and carpooled to work.
One more case was detected as part of the the Wollert outbreak in Melbourne's outer-north, taking total cases for that outbreak to 10.
A new outbreak has been detected among a family from Patterson Lakes in Melbourne's south-east, with four people so far diagnosed with the virus.
Ms Mikakos said three more cases had also been linked to a family outbreak in Truganina in Melbourne's west, bringing that total to five.
Victoria 'on the edge' of being able to manage outbreaks
Earlier, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria was experiencing a second peak of cases, with double-digit daily case increases for most of the past fortnight.
He said the state was "right on the edge" of being able to manage the peak in cases, which accelerated after restrictions were eased.
A fresh blitz aiming to test 100,000 Victorians over a 10-day period is now underway and Professor Sutton said if the surge did get out of control "it will not be from a lack of effort".
Professor Sutton also said new advice about the benefits of wearing masks, where social distancing was not possible such as on public transport, was on the way.
"It's pretty clear wearing a mask might provide a bit more physical distance between you and others as they see you wearing it," he said.
More to come.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTI5L3ZpY3Rvcmlhbi1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1zZWNvbmQtcGVhay1tZWxib3VybmUtaG90c3BvdHMvMTI0MDIxMjbSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI0MDIxMjY?oc=5
2020-06-29 02:20:04Z
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