New cases across Colac Otway, Greater Geelong linked to known cases
Barwon Health’s infectious diseases boss believes the G21 region can be free of active cases within two weeks. This is why he thinks it can happen.
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THE G21 region could be free of active coronavirus in about two weeks, according to Barwon Health’s infectious diseases boss.
New coronavirus cases were reported across Colac Otway and Greater Geelong on Friday, as the Premier flagged further announcements about easing restrictions next week.
Four new cases were reported for Colac Otway, where active cases increased to 33.
One new case was recorded in Greater Geelong, where active cases dropped by one to 10.
The new cases have been linked to known cases.
An active case was removed for the Surf Coast Shire, meaning it has joined Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliffe in being free of active cases.
Barwon Health director of infectious diseases Eugene Athan commended residents of the G21 region for following the public health measures, and said their work has helped flatten the curve.
“It is possible there will be no active cases in our region in around two weeks,” he said.
“The latest outbreak at Colac is under control.”
Restrictions are set to ease in regional Victoria from Monday.
After Monday’s changes, the next step for further easing relies on regional Victoria reaching an average of less than five new cases per day over the previous 14 days, and zero mystery cases over the previous 14 days.
The average new daily cases for regional Victoria for the previous 14 days was 4.7.
There were seven cases in the last 14 days with an unknown source in regional Victoria.
Prof Athan said more than two weeks has passed since the last mystery case in the G21 region.
After the State Government flagged the G21 region potentially being held back from further restrictions easing, if cases did not fall in line with other parts of the state, Premier Daniel Andrews said that was now not looking necessary.
“Regional Victoria is poised to take at least a step, and potentially two steps,” Mr Andrews said.
“We’ll have more to say about that next week.”
Health authorities were on Friday working to identify the source of a potential mystery case reported from Echuca on Thursday, and said it would be retested and thoroughly investigated.
“This one case in Echuca is of significant concern,” Mr Andrews said.
“I want regional Victoria to take not just one step, but if the numbers allow, two steps.
“I don’t want something that’s occurring on one side of the state to necessarily impact rules on the other side of the state.”
Geelong hospital has three inpatients with coronavirus on Friday, including one in intensive care.
Forty-three new cases and nine additional deaths were reported statewide.
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Originally published as New cases across Colac Otway, Greater Geelong linked to known cases