Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has described the state's second wave of coronavirus as "incredibly stubborn" as he revealed 313 health workers and one ADF member are considered active cases.
While giving his latest update on the situation, Mr Andrews said the state's aged care facilities remain "really challenging" environments because of a high number of casual staff and residents being older and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the state's Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said increasing restrictions may not lead to fewer cases.
Here are some of the other key points from the update on Saturday afternoon.
What are the latest figures?
Victoria has recorded 357 new infections overnight including five more deaths.
The Premier said there were 3,995 active cases including 313 health workers, one member of the Australian Defence Force and 536 in aged care facilities.
The breakdown of clusters:
- 183 cases linked to Al-Taqwa College, Truganina
- 74 cases linked to St Basil's Homes for the Aged, Fawkner
- 71 cases linked to Estia Health, Ardeer
- 60 cases linked to Menarock Life Aged Care, Essendon
- 49 cases linked to Glendale Aged Care, Werribee.
- 23 cases linked to Baptcare Wyndham Lodge, Werribee
- 22 cases linked to Regis Aged Care, Brighton
- 80 cases linked to Somerville Retail Services, Tottenham
- 45 cases linked to the Australian Lamb Company, Colac
Aged care with casual workers is 'really challenging'
There are more than 500 active COVID-19 cases in aged care centres, including 38 aged care settings.
Mr Andrews said it was roughly a 50-50 split of cases between health workers and residents.
He said the State Government is working in partnership with the Commonwealth Government and the private sector to put in place measures to curb the virus in aged care facilities, which has been largely driven by staff bringing the virus to work.
Mr Andrews said aged care centres were "really challenging" because they were staffed by many casual workers.
"We see that both in terms of the number of cases and also the number of people who are by the very nature of these settings frail and aged, many have underlying health issues," Mr Andrews said.
Measures put in place include:
- Workers consolidating shifts to a single site instead of working in many places, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
- The Commonwealth providing financial support to workers who are disadvantaged because they can only work in one place
- The State Government paying $1,500 for a person in insecure work that tests positive and $300 a day when a worker gets tested and is waiting for their result
- Reduced visitor numbers
- Asymptomatic testing for staff
- Additional training in infection control
Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said the average age of residents in aged care is close to 90 years old.
"The severity of illness in that population is very significant," Professor Sutton said.
"Coronavirus is a very serious infection to get. The key is not having the virus introduced in the first place. Once you have an outbreak, their vulnerability puts them in danger."
Medically trained are getting sick
It was revealed a member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who was working at the Craigieburn testing site has tested positive to coronavirus.
Professor Sutton said the case was being investigated.
"Even those medically trained individuals using PPE and who have been trained in it and have been given all the appropriate PPE, can be at risk," he said.
"Sometimes it is in the donning or the doffing, or the washing of hands before and afterwards … It speaks to the absolute infectiousness of this virus."
Mr Andrews said he was grateful for the work of the ADF.
"Even with the full PPE, layer upon layer, no PPE can reduce the risk to zero. But ADF are playing a really important part, and we are very grateful to them, " he said.
Why stage 4 restrictions won't help?
Professor Sutton says this wave of infection is "not like the first wave".
"The numbers have remained stubbornly high," he said.
This week, people in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire must don a face mask when outside their homes, the latest measure to reduce infections.
"I am hopeful and really keen to see what the effects of universal mask wearing might be," he said.
Many people are speculating the State Government may need to tighten restrictions, but Professor Sutton says the focus remains on preventing transmission in aged care centres and workplaces like warehouse distribution centres and food production facilities.
"The very places where we are seeing outbreaks, the very places where we are seeing transmission, are the places that would remain open if we went to a stage four," he said.
"We shouldn't pretend that a really broad shutdown of industry will address where we are seeing the transmission."
Beware of scammers
People are being warned to be on the lookout for scammers wanting bank details.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) states its Scamwatch program has received 3,550 scam reports mentioning the coronavirus.
The Premier said reports of scammers posing as officials were "an ugly feature of our modern world" and "awful".
"No member of the contact tracing team is going to be asking for your credit card or your bank details," he said.
He did note if you have claimed the Government's $300 or $1,500 payment, you will be asked for those details.
Mr Andrews said he was confident that between the Health Department, Consumer Affairs Victoria and potentially police, the matters would be investigated.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA3LTI1L2tleS1wb2ludHMtZnJvbS12aWN0b3JpYXMtbGF0ZXN0LWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXByZXNzLWNvbmZlcmVuY2UvMTI0OTIyOTjSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI0OTIyOTg?oc=5
2020-07-25 05:12:00Z
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