Victoria records 90 new coronavirus cases and six deaths - ABC News

Victoria has recorded 90 new coronavirus cases overnight, marking the third consecutive day of double-digit increases in the state.

Key points:

• Victoria's seven-day average of new cases has dropped below 100 for the first time since early July
• Health authorities have urged people to continue to get tested if they have symptoms
• A man with drugs and $12,000 cash in his car was fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions overnight

Six more people have also died, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Twitter.

The state reported 70 new infections yesterday and 73 on Monday.

Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to provide more information on the latest numbers this morning, although the press conference's time has not yet been announced.

This week's numbers have pushed Victoria's seven-day average of new cases below 100 for the first time since early July.

On Tuesday, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria was "on the right pathway" but urged people to continue to get tested if they had symptoms.

For the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic read our coronavirus live blog.

"These are low numbers — it can cause complacency for people who think they don't need to test, but testing is the pathway to drive numbers down," he said.

"If we don't know that there are cases in the community, if we can't identify people and they're not aware themselves, then they're going to put their close family and other close contacts at risk."

A leading epidemiologist has called for widespread testing of asymptomatic people in Victoria to ensure the current case numbers are not being underestimated.

However other experts have argued for "intelligent testing" to target areas where community transmission is suspected, with the percentage of people testing positive in Victoria already extremely low.

Man fined for coronavirus restrictions breach after drugs found in car

Victoria's state of emergency is set to be extended by up to six months after a massive debate in State Parliament last night culminated in the bill passing the Upper House at 2:00am.

The Andrews Government wanted to change the laws governing how long it could last so that it could continue enforcing health directives beyond the current state of emergency's end date of September 13.

Greens MP Samantha Ratnam came into Parliament from maternity leave to vote for the bill.

Outside State Parliament today Health Minister Jenny Mikakos declined to say whether a deal was done with the Greens to secure their deciding vote, but said she was thankful for Ms Ratnam's vote.

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Premier Daniel Andrews said two separate "roadmaps" out of restrictions would be announced for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria this weekend.

Police have issued 129 fines for breaching the Chief Health Officer's public health directions in the 24 hours to 9:00am, including 64 for curfew breaches and 18 for failing to wear a face covering.

One man who was pulled over told police he was going to "drop rice off to his children", but officers searched his car and found drugs and nearly $12,000 in cash.

More to come.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA5LTAyL3ZpY3RvcmlhLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNhc2VzLXJpc2UtYnktOTAtbW9yZS1kZWF0aHMtcmVwb3J0ZWQvMTI2MTk4MTjSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI2MTk4MTg?oc=5

2020-09-01 22:35:00Z
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