Active coronavirus cases in Melbourne, Victorian council areas

While active virus cases are falling across most of Victoria, numbers have increased in a dozen areas — including one southeast metropolitan area for the eighth day in a row. See the latest numbers where you live.

Several areas in Melbourne’s south and east have recorded an increase in active cases as infections continue to fall across most of the state.

There were 12 deaths and 216 new cases were announced on Wednesday.

Kingston (136, +7), Monash (82, +6), Moreland (380, +3) and Banyule (117, +1) recorded increases in active infections, while Wyndham (811, -20), Stonnington (47, -10) and Yarra Ranges (98, -10) recorded double-figure falls.

Mornington Peninsula (70, +3) recorded its eighth consecutive increase in active cases, while infections also fell in other hotspot areas, including Brimbank (743, -7), Whittlesea (476, -6), Melton (459, -8), and Hume (527, -4).

Infection numbers increased in Darebin (298, +4), Moreland (380, +3), Banyule (117, +1) and Hobsons Bay (176, +1).

Regionally, active cases fell in Greater Geelong (151, -8), Greater Bendigo (38, -6), Colac Otway (36, -3), Ballarat (22, -2), while infection numbers increased in Moorabool (6, +2), Macedon Ranges (28, +1), Warrnambool (8, +1), Surf Coast (6, +1) and Wellington (1, +1).

SEE ALL ACTIVE CASES BY COUNCIL AREA BELOW

Authorities are confident the number of daily new cases will continue to fall further — with some experts expecting them to drop below 100 within two weeks — as the effects of the latest lockdown laws are realised.

Professor Brett Sutton said Wednesdays were usually “spike days” and it was a good sign to record a drop in infections.

“We’ll take 216 (cases),” he said

“But we do have to bear in mind that testing numbers have gone down.”

Premier Daniel Andrews urged Victorians to think twice about their need to travel.

Rather than large outbreaks, unknown transmissions pose the pandemic’s greatest risk because the sources cannot be placed in isolation, leaving them free to infect swathes of the community.

It is continued growth, of what Mr Andrews has labelled “mystery cases”, which led to Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions.

Mr Andrews announced Stage 4 restrictions on Sunday, August 2, which means no-one can travel any further than 5km of their home to do shopping or physical exercise, and also a curfew making people stay at home from 8pm and 5am.

State 4 restrictions will be in force across metropolitan Melbourne until at least September 13.

While for regional Victorian areas – including Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire – Stage 3 restrictions will be in place from 11:59pm on Wednesday, August 5.

“We must do more. We must go harder. It’s the only way we’ll get to the other side of this.”

Restrictions also include staying at home between curfew hours, only one person per household is allowed to go grocery shopping each day, exercise outside the home is only permitted for one hour per day and within 5km of home.

He said there would be exemptions for people to visit their intimate partners who live apart and also for work.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VICTORIAN CASES

As of Wednesday the total number of coronavirus cases in Victoria stands at 17,446.

The overall total has increased by 208 due to eight cases being reclassified largely due to duplication.

The state’s death toll is now 363, an increase of 12 from Tuesday. All are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities.

There are 2040 active cases related to aged care centres.

There have been 3751 cases indicating unknown transmission, an extra 82 from Tuesday.

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said these mystery cases were “trending down as we would expect”.

“But again, I would like to see a day of zero new outbreaks and very little community transmission,” he said.

Figures released showed people aged between 20 and 29 are the biggest driver of community transmission.

Of the total number of cases, 8376 are men and 9031 women.

There are 675 people in hospital, including 44 patients in intensive care.

There are 7155 known active cases in Victoria — 122 fewer than Tuesday. There have been 9729 people recover.

Meanwhile the number of healthcare workers with active cases are 1065.

A total of 2,008,630 tests have been processed.

The department follows up and monitors all close contacts of confirmed cases and provides them with information and support. All close contacts must self-isolate for 14 days.

WHAT ABOUT TOTAL CASES?

Wyndham is Victoria’s hotspot when it come to total virus cases, with the western Melbourne area having 1887 confirmed positive tests, over 100 more than Brimbank (1764).

Hume (1456) is next, while Whittlesea (1087), Melton (977), Moreland (904), Melbourne (828), Casey (809) and Moonee Valley (698) all have more than 600 total cases.

HOW DOES VICTORIA COMPARE WITH AUSTRALIA AND THE WORLD?