Active cases drop in Geelong as Colac outbreak grows
The Chief Health Officer has indicated restrictions should ease for Geelong in line with the rest of regional Victoria, with cases dropping in the city. But an outbreak in Colac has continued to grow.
Geelong
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THE Colac coronavirus outbreak has continued to grow, with Barwon Health confirming there are 25 active cases in the city.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews said numbers in Geelong were “pleasing” as Victoria recorded a daily increase of less than 50 new cases for the first time since June.
Barwon Health head of infectious diseases Eugene Athan said the active cases in Colac were linked to the community’s second coronavirus outbreak.
“The index case in this outbreak has been linked to a Colac resident travelling to Melbourne for urgent medical care,” Prof Athan said.
“A small number of cases may be linked to a social gathering.”
Prof Athan said the current cases were across a small number of businesses and household contacts.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported one new coronavirus case for Colac Otway on Monday.
There were 25 active cases in the municipality.
The DHHS said 16 active cases were linked to Bulla Dairy Foods in Colac, where six staff members have tested positive.
It comes after the first Colac outbreak emerged at the Australian Lamb Company in July.
“The Colac community has responded very well to complying with the public health measures and when requested confirmed cases and close contacts have been self-isolating at home or in
accommodation,” Prof Athan said.
“Colac Area Health has expanded testing capacity and anyone with even the mildest of symptoms is encouraged to get tested.
“There will be extensive testing this week as close contacts are due for day 11 testing and this may identify further cases however all of these close contacts have been self-isolating.”
Meanwhile, no new cases were reported for Greater Geelong, with one case removed from the municipality’s total tally.
Active cases fell by three to 16.
“That’s very pleasing given the size of Geelong and some of those transmission risks between the west of Melbourne and Geelong,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Geelong region was doing very well, indicating it looked set to have restrictions eased at the same pace as the rest of regional Victoria.
“I think, fingers crossed, Geelong is on exactly the same setting as the rest of Victoria,” Prof Sutton said.
No new coronavirus cases were reported for the Surf Coast, which had one active case.
The Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains remained free of active cases.
There were three inpatients with coronavirus at Geelong hospital on Monday, including one in intensive care.
Statewide, 41 new coronavirus cases and nine additional deaths were reported.
Six of the deaths occurred prior to Sunday.
Eight of the nine deaths were linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities.
Victoria’s coronavirus death toll stood at 675.
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Originally published as Active cases drop in Geelong as Colac outbreak grows