New coronavirus cases for Colac Otway, Greater Geelong

Cases have jumped again in Colac, while Greater Geelong has also recorded new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours. Here are the region’s latest numbers.

Coronavirus cases have surged in Colac, with five new cases reported following a second outbreak in the town.

There were 30 active cases reported for Colac Otway on Wednesday, and the Department of Health and Human Services had linked 15 active cases to Bulla Dairy Foods in Colac.

A seventh Bulla staff member has tested positive for coronavirus.

However, Bulla said the DHHS confirmed this seventh case is not workplace related and occurred through a family household transmission.

Bulla plans to reopen its Connor St site on Saturday.

The spike comes as the Premier indicated following restrictions easing from Monday for regional Victoria, further relaxation of COVID-19 could be imminent.

Greater Geelong recorded two new coronavirus cases, while active cases dropped from 16 to 15.

The Surf Coast was steady at one active case, while the Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains remained free of active cases.

Colac has recorded more coronavirus cases. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

After restrictions ease on Monday, the next step is dependent on regional Victoria hitting two targets: an average of less than five new cases per day over the previous 14 days, and zero mystery cases over the previous 14 days.

Premier Daniel Andrews indicated the changes reliant on those measures could be imminent.

He said the current 14-day new case average for regional Victoria was five.

For the 14 days from Aug 25 to September 7, there were 10 cases with an unknown source in regional Victoria.

“In general terms regional Victoria numbers remain very low and we are very grateful to each and every member of regional Victorian communities who are playing their part to keep those numbers low so that we can meet those trigger points and be able to not simply take one step, but potentially two steps to open regional Victoria up,” Mr Andrews said

“There will need to be further days elapse for us to get to that point, but the numbers are encouraging.”

“We’ll get there soon and hopefully it isn’t just taking one step hopefully it can be taking two.”

Barwon Health director of Infectious Diseases Professor Eugene Athan said it has been 13 days since the last case without a known source of acquisition in the region.

“Contact tracing teams work very hard to make sure we can identify the source of any new COVID-19 case,” Prof Athan said.

“Mostly there is a clear chain of infection and we are able to be identify the acquisition quickly.

“In a very small number of cases, the source of the acquisition is not able to be identified.

“These are the cases that are of most concern as it may indicate there are unknown cases in the community who are transmitting the virus.”

Geelong hospital had five inpatients with coronavirus on Wednesday, including two in intensive care.

There were 76 new cases and 11 further deaths reported statewide on Wednesday.

Victoria’s coronavirus death toll stood at 694.

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Originally published as New coronavirus cases for Colac Otway, Greater Geelong