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Torquay front beach packed as COVID tally drops in Geelong and surrounds

No new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the five council areas in the Geelong region in the past 24 hours. The news comes as beachgoers made the most of eased restrictions and the warmer weather on Saturday.

Regional Victoria has 'opened up' – here's what's changed

NO new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the five council areas in the Geelong region in the past 24 hours.

And active cases in the Colac Otway Shire, which account for 40 per cent of active cases in regional Victoria, continue to drop, down two to 12 cases since Friday.

In Greater Geelong three COVID-19 cases remain active with 363 cases recorded in the municipality since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Surf Coast and Golden Plains shires, and the Borough of Queenscliffe continue to be free of active COVID-19 cases.

There are 28 active COVID-19 cases across regional Victoria, and the public has

flocked to the region’s beaches on the first weekend out of lockdown.

Victoria recorded 21 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday and the total number of cases since the pandemic began is 20,034. Across Victoria 834 COVID-19 cases are currently active.

The two-week regional COVID-19 case average was at 1.9 on Saturday while in metropolitan Melbourne the figure was at 39.3.

Torquay front beach was thriving on the first weekend after the easing of restrictions in regional Victoria. Picture: Peter Ristevski
Torquay front beach was thriving on the first weekend after the easing of restrictions in regional Victoria. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government’s COVID-19 suppression strategy was working.

“This strategy is working you only need to look at regional Victoria taking not one but two steps (of reopening) this week,” Mr Andrews said.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said: “It’s fantastic to see case numbers lower than the temperature. It’s the first time in a long time.”

The Esplanade, Torquay on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Peter Ristevski
The Esplanade, Torquay on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The next stage of easing of restrictions in regional Victoria, planned for November 23, requires the state to be free of new COVID-19 cases for a fortnight.

Seven deaths from COVID-19 were reported since Friday, six linked to aged care. All were aged 60-years-old or older.

Originally published as Torquay front beach packed as COVID tally drops in Geelong and surrounds

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/torquay-front-beach-packed-as-covid-tally-drops-in-geelong-and-surrounds/news-story/7b20ed2fb81caba5275d9959ed61fc14