Victoria suffers SEVENTY-FIVE new cases of coronavirus: Huge spike in Melbourne as clusters spiral out of control – and entire suburbs could soon be locked down
- Victoria has recorded 75 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours
- The number is the state’s biggest daily increase since March 31
- Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said this second wave is ‘a big as the first’
- Dr Sutton blamed the latest outbreak on people failing to quarantine when sick
Victoria has today reported 75 new cases of coronavirus as the state’s recent spike gets worse, forcing the government to consider fresh lockdowns.
The number is the state’s biggest daily increase since March 31, prompting Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton to say this second wave is ‘as big as the first’.
Predicting further increases in the days ahead, he said: ‘Things are going to get worse before they get better.’
Of the new cases recorded on Sunday, only one is a traveller in hotel quarantine, 14 are linked to known outbreaks and 37 were picked up through a testing blitz of ten ‘hotspot’ Melbourne suburbs launched over the weekend.
Twenty-three cases are still being investigated and six are believed to be from community transmission.
Dr Sutton blamed the latest outbreak on people failing to quarantine when sick – and said suburb lockdowns were being considered.
Medical staff are seen conducting coronavirus testing at the new Mobile Testing Site at CB Smith Reserve Fawkner in Moreland, Victoria (pictured on Saturday)
‘What we are seeing is transmission across settings because people are still going out with symptoms,’ he said.
‘Outbreaks are occurring across multiple households, across work and other settings.’
Asked about new lockdown orders, he said: ‘The public health directions changing the law is something we have to consider because we have to do whatever is required to turn this around.’
Dr Sutton said any new rules would focus on limiting the number of people that residents can interact with and forcing people to stay at home if they have symptoms.
He said restaurants and shops would not have to close again because COVID-Safe plans mean the risk of transmission is well-managed.
‘Obviously we’re concerned by the increase in number,’ health minister Jenny Mikakos said today.
She said much of the transmission was from family gatherings.
Dr Sutton said the recent cases transmitted in the past five or six days.
On Sunday Victoria recorded 49 new cases, the highest number since April 3.
Victoria has been carrying out a testing blitz in ten suburbs across Melbourne – and warned they could lock neighbourhoods down if COVID-19 infection rates keep rising
Lieutenant Commander Thomas Miller of the Royal Australian Navy (R) watches as members of the Australian Defence Force perform COVID-19 coronavirus tests on members of the public