19 Victorians die in state’s deadliest day of pandemic so far, 322 new cases recorded
Australia’s chief medical officer has described Victoria’s situation as “agonising” despite the state’s welcome drop in new infections. It comes as new data revealed up to one quarter of new coronavirus cases are not being interviewed within 24 hours, hampering Victoria’s contact tracing efforts.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Get full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $1 for the first 28 days.
Australia’s chief medical officer has described Victoria’s situation as “agonising” despite the state’s welcome drop in new infections.
Professor Michael Kidd said Monday’s 19 deaths in Victoria was the single deadliest figure in one day across the state and the country, bringing the country’s death toll to 313.
“Only 10 days ago the number of people who died passed 200 and now its passed 300,” he said.
“This is an agonising day for the family members of those 19 people who have lost a loved one today.”
Prof Kidd said the recent decrease of coronavirus cases in Victoria was a positive sign, but warned it was “too early” to be certain about a further drop.
“We need to follow the numbers very closely over the coming week,” he said.
“While it’s heartening to see the declining number of cases being reported each day from Victoria, and we have seen that over the past five days, while we still have hundreds of cases being reported each day, we will continue to have people admitted to hospital and people becoming gravely unwell. And sadly some of those people will die,” he said.
A specialised COVID-19 cleaning team from national cleaning company Cleancorp sterilises the Kids Learning Academy Childcare and Preschool in Busby as NSW records 14 new cases. Picture: Dylan Coker/NCA NewsWire
In the past 24 hours, Victoria has recorded 322 new infections, while there were 14 cases in New South Wales and one in Queensland.
A total of 664 Australians are in hospital, an increase of five since yesterday, with 54 in intensive care and 39 hooked up to ventilators.
More than 4.9 million tests have been carried out across the country, with more than 12,000 having reportedly recovered from the deadly disease.
Prof Kidd warned health authorities were “very concerned” about the growing number of healthcare and aged-care workers becoming infected.
“It is important people have access to the personal protective equipment they need to do their job safely and it is important they also have the access to support from colleagues to ensure they are using the personal protective equipment appropriately,” he said.
The Victorian government will rollout an emotional advertising campaign to get residents to comply with the stage four lockdown.
The new ads unveiled on Monday tell the confronting stories of people who caught the virus, including a middle-aged mother who thought she would die.\
— Anthony Piovesan
CONTACT TRACING WOES CONTINUES
Up to one quarter of new coronavirus cases are not being interviewed within 24 hours hampering Victoria’s contact tracing efforts.
Official government data released on Monday has revealed between 10 and 25 per cent of new cases are awaiting interview by contact tracers because they can’t be reached on the phone or at home.
After being interviewed, about 99 per cent of known contacts are being notified under 48 hours, the data revealed.
Victoria’s contact tracing team has struggled to cope with surging cases, and has come under fire for delays in contacting some positive cases and their close contacts.
Over recent weeks the Andrews government has drafted more workers, boosting the contact tracing team to more than 2400.
“Our contact tracing teams are working around the clock to find and contain coronavirus, with well over 2,000 people supporting our contact tracing efforts,” health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.
“We all have a part to play If you get a test, notify those who have been close to you. But Victorians should be assured we have a massive team working to keep them and their loved ones safe.”
Authorities aim to interview all new positive cases within 24 hours.
ADF and Department of Health and Human Services staff have also been checking in on every Victorian who has tested positive for coronavirus.
As of 9 August, nearly 10,000 doors have been knocked on.
It is understood some people cannot be reached because they are isolating at a different address to the one recorded, may be in hospital, or may be breaching isolation.
There are currently over 12,000 close contacts being monitored with around 2,500 additional close contacts identified each day.
Between July 29 to August 9, nearly 15,000 phone calls were made to close contacts.
— Shannon Deery
VICTORIA’S DEADIIEST DAY
Victoria has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic with another 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the state’s death toll to 228.
The new deaths included one male in his 50s, one female in her 60s, two males in their 70s, one male and six females in their 80s, and one male and seven females in their 90s.
Fourteen of the 19 deaths have been linked to aged care settings.
There were 322 new cases, the lowest daily increase since July 28.
But another 105 mystery cases have been identified.
Despite the death toll, Premier Daniel Andrews said there was some evidence Victoria’s outbreak was stabilising, but it was too early to mark it as a trend.
“It is still very early for us to be trying to measure the impacts of stage four,” he said.
He said any stabilisation was due to the introduction of mandatory mask wearing and Victorians complying with lockdown measures.
“If we don’t follow these rules and don’t make our own contribution to limiting movement … then we will not drive down these cases numbers to an acceptable level to reopen,” Mr Andrews said.
“It is a matter of life and death.”
CALL-TO-TEST PROGRAM LAUNCHED
A new call-to-test program will be rolled out in Victoria to ensure those with disabilities can be tested for coronavirus in their home.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said for people who might be housebound due to disability or other chronic health conditions it could be difficult for them to present to a testing station.
“We want to make sure that every Victorian has the opportunity to be tested for coronavirus,” she said.
People will be able to call the coronavirus hotline, be assessed by a nurse and, with a GP referral, a tester will be sent to their house free of charge.
“We will go to people’s homes and we will ensure that they will be able to be tested within a 48-hour period,” Ms Mikakos said.
“This is designed to ensure that approximately 200 vulnerable Victorians every day will have access to this new testing capacity.”
FEARS FOR FRONTLINE STAFF
Coronavirus infections among healthcare staff have more than doubled in the past fortnight amid concern that the true scale of the problem is being underestimated.
The Australian Medical Association says it’s “extremely concerned” at the rising number of healthcare staff infected, citing cheap protective equipment and a lack of standard protocols as potential causes.
Western Australian nurses will land in Victoria this week to help with the virus fight.
On Sunday, there were 994 active cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Victoria, compared with 400 on July 27.
That is a jump of more than 590 cases in the past 14 days.
Mr Andrews said the most powerful thing the rest of the community could do for healthcare workers was to follow the rules.
“In many respects the most powerful thing we can all do, is to follow the rules, play our individual part and do our bit to make sure that there are less people in hospital, and not more, and that’s the best way to say thank you to our nurses, to our doctors, to our ambos and to all the other non-clinical workers who are still part of the essential functioning of every single healthcare setting,” he said.
Nearly 2000 healthcare workers have contracted the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.
Even more have likely been forced into isolation due to close contacts with infected colleagues, friends and family.
AMA Victorian branch president Julian Rait said a national database was necessary to track cases in the healthcare workforce.
“AMA Victoria is extremely concerned by the rising prevalence of infection among healthcare workers, which would appear to exceed that of the wider community,” Dr Rait said.
“Quite simply, the failure by various governments to properly record and analyse infections among healthcare workers is scandalous, as we are likely underestimating the true scale of the problem and are putting staff at higher risk.”
Dr Rait said the AMA was pleased protective equipment protocols had been updated, but cases of inconsistent and “knock-off” supplies were still being reported, with some settings failing to provide adequate protection for staff.
Premier Daniel Andrews was confident Victoria had enough frontline staff to see out the pandemic.
“We’ve done a lot of contingency planning, a lot of work to try to make sure we have surge capacity, that we’ve got people we can call on,” he said.
“We think we’ve got the reserves that we need, but there’s a lot of stress there. They’re all doing a fantastic job. We’ve got enough capacity.”
Nurses from Western Australia were expected to touch down this week.
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Robyn Lawrence said the nurses would provide “care and support.”
She said a “significant level of support” had been requested by Victoria, especially in relation to aged care homes.
‘‘WA is in a fortunate position with very limited numbers of active COVID-19 cases.’’ Dr Lawrence said.
VIRUS OUTBREAKS BY THE NUMBERS
AGED CARE
188 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
171 cases linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner
146 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
125 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
106 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee
97 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
93 cases linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North
88 cases linked to Arcare Aged Care Facility in Craigieburn
79 cases linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee
78 cases linked to Aurrum Aged Care in Plenty
OTHER OUTBREAKS
201 cases linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown
133 cases linked to JBS Brooklyn
114 cases linked to Melbourne Health Royal Park Campus
49 cases linked to the Linfox warehouse in Truganina
44 cases linked to Golden Farms Poultry in Breakwater
39 cases linked to Catholic Regional College in Sydenham
25 cases linked to Multiplex Premier tower
32 cases linked to Inghams in Thomastown
27 cases linked to Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North
18 cases linked to Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm in Bendigo
BIG NUMBER OF CASE SOURCES FOUND
The number of coronavirus cases under investigation dropped by 1000 in the past week.
There are a number of initiatives being used to help contact trace cases, including the ADF doorknocking program.
Mr Andrews said there wasn’t one specific thing improving the situation, but a whole range of them working together.
“Some of it will be attributed to stage 4 restrictions, curfews, things of that nature,” he said.
ST BASIL’S BUNGLE DELAYED FEDERAL RESPONSE
The aged care watchdog knew there had been a coronavirus outbreak at the troubled St Basil’s facility but failed to raise the alarm with the federal government.
The bungle meant it took four days before a federal response was launched at the Fawkner home, where the deadly outbreak has now been connected to 169 cases of COVID-19.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck and Health Department secretary Professor Brendan Murphy told a Senate inquiry last week that they were not aware there had been a positive case at St Basil’s until July 14.
– Tom Minear
MIKAKOS TIGHT-LIPPED OVER TWEETS
Victoria is at a “critical juncture” as Melbourne faced tough stage four restrictions and the regions endured stage three, the Health Minister says.
Ms Mikako said mistakes were made in the government’s response to the pandemic.
“There’s an independent process underway and I think it’s important that that process is allowed to do its job without, you know, me or anyone else providing a daily running commentary,” she said.
I’ve always striven to be upfront and measured about the challenges facing us.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
So it pains me to see the incorrect assumption made that somehow I can single-handedly report on the actions of countless individuals and many agencies involved in our pandemic response.
The Health Minister wouldn’t be drawn on a series of late-night tweets she made about the pandemic.
“I think it’s important to focus on the task at hand and that’s what I have been doing,” she said.
Mikakos refused to budge on questions about whether she’d send the tweets again if she had her time over.
“The tweets are there, and they can form their own views on them. I am not going to be a commentator on them … I’m not casting judgment on myself.”
And to our collective frustration we find ourselves in a second wave, like many other parts of the world, this one more deadly than the first. And our collective heartache is enormous for every grieving family, every unemployed worker, every person not coping at home alone.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
MELBOURNE STRONG: WHITE ISLAND SURVIVOR’S LOCKDOWN PLEA
Inspirational Victorians have joined together for the Melbourne Strong campaign – to give encouragement and hope to anyone who is struggling though the lockdown.
Today, and in coming days, inspiring Victorians who have overcome adversity, some famous and others not so well-known, send their messages of strength to you.
White Island volcano survivor Stephanie Browitt has sent an inspirational message of support to her fellow Melburnians, saying lockdown is just a small sacrifice to save lives.
FAMOUS MELBURNIANS SHARE #MELBOURNESTRONG MESSAGE
Victoria’s most inspirational figures are imploring the state to unite in a new resolve against coronavirus.
New Zealand volcano eruption survivor Stephanie Browitt, AFL legend Neale Daniher and Bali bombing survivor Jason McCartney are leading the effort to overcome one of the greatest challenges in our state’s history.
Everyday citizens, some who’ve fought wars and others bushfires, are also calling on Victorians to draw on the community spirit which has overcome obstacles once considered insurmountable as part of the Melbourne Strong campaign.
MORE FINES DISHED OUT TO RULE BREAKERS
A man on a desperate last night dash for cigarettes is one of the 276 Victorians fined in the past 24 hours for breaching health orders.
Of those who were issued infringements, 74 were fined for breaching curfew and 37 were fined for failing to wear a face mask.
Among those flouting the law include:
A CAR parked in Campbellfield with four males inside all from different addresses who claimed to be “hanging out”;
FIVE people in a Wyndham garage who were drinking, smoking and listening to loud music;
A MAN found in Yarra more than 5km from his home who claimed he was catching up with friends for a drink and
A COUPLE who travelled more than 5km to a playground in Wyndham who told police they were “sick of walking around their local area”.
Operation Sentinel continues.
Mr Andrews said the number of Victorians following the rules was increasing.
“The sense I’m getting from the data and more broadly is I think the number of Victorians who are following the rules is going up,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean, though, that we can in any way excuse the poor choices that some people are making.”
– Brianna Travers
LOCKDOWN WILL KILL – BUT NOT FROM THE VIRUS
Politicians are destroying Australia — throwing a million people out of work, causing suicides — because they’ve fallen for two great weaknesses, both of which will extend crippling lockdowns much longer than necessary, writes Andrew Bolt.
HOTEL QUARANTINE SECURITY GUARDS HANDLED BAGS
Security guards routinely handled guests’ bags against health advice at some of Melbourne’s quarantine hotels.
The Herald Sun has been told by multiple sources who were working at the hotels that some private guards had no qualms about carrying suitcases and bags from airport buses through hotel foyers and up to rooms.
They were exposing themselves to contamination as they tried to welcome the potentially coronavirus-infected returned travellers.
Those who saw what was going on said the guards should have got the passengers to take their own bags up to their rooms.
It is expected the widespread handling of baggage by security will emerge as one of many shortcomings in the quarantine hotels when an inquiry into its handling convenes.
MORE NEWS
WHITE ISLAND SURVIVOR’S PLEA TO LOCKED-DOWN MELBURNIANS
MELBOURNE’S HOTEL QUARANTINE GUARDS PAID CASH TO DO NOTHING
HOTEL QUARANTINE INQUIRY DELAYED SIX MONTHS AFTER STAGE FOUR