Premier Daniel Andrews confirms 74 more coronavirus cases in Victoria

Victoria has recorded 74 new coronavirus cases overnight as Premier Daniel Andrews announced support measures for public housing residents.

Victoria has recorded 74 more coronavirus cases overnight as Premier Daniel Andrews announced support measures for public housing residents.

Mr Andrews addressed the media on Sunday morning where he said the state currently had 543 active cases, with thousands of other close contacts currently isolating at home.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria is 2536. Of the new cases, the cause of 53 were under investigation, 16 were from controlled outbreaks, four were from routine testing and one from a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

There are 26 Victorians in hospital, three of which are in intensive care. More than 21,500 people were tested for COVID-19 on Saturday.

It comes as 108 new coronavirus cases were recorded on Saturday, bringing the weekend total to more than 182.

Two extra postcodes 3031 and 3051 – which cover Flemington, Kensington and North Melbourne – went into lockdown from 11.59pm on Saturday, with about 3000 residents in nine public housing towers in those suburbs not allowed to leave their homes for at least five days.

Mr Andrews said there would be no rent charged for the tenants in the nine government housing buildings for the next two weeks.

“Secondly, those who are employed, and because of the hard lockdown cannot go to work, they will receive a $1500 hardship payment,” he said.

Residents peer out the windows at a large police presence at government housing building on Racecourse Rd in Flemington on Sunday morning. Picture: David Crosling

“For those households where there is no one in employment, they will receive a $750 hardship payment.”

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said four new cases were linked to outbreaks in the public housing buildings, bring the total to 13 confirmed cases at the North Melbourne complexes and 14 at Flemington.

But Professor Sutton said he expected more cases to be found.

“The reason why these measures are in place … is because this environment, this specific setting has genuinely explosive potential for the spread of this virus,” he said.

“It’s about the entire environment and the way that people interact and the issue of how easily that virus spreads so I think this is an appropriate public health response.”

Mr Andrews acknowledged it was not going to be a pleasant experience for the residents in the nine apartment towers.

“This is not about punishment but protection,” he said.

Police on the scene at government housing towers on Racecourse Rd in Flemington on Sunday morning. Picture: David Crosling

“We have to do everything we can to contain the virus and that is why staying in your unit, staying in your flat, is absolutely essential. If we have a large group of people who already have pre-existing and underlying health challenges infected with this virus then people will die.

“This needs to be a lockdown like an aged care facility where because of the vulnerability of people in these towers, a hard lockdown like in aged care was deemed appropriate.

“There will be mixed views about whether that was the right way to go, but that is the public health advice and we are well served by following public health advice.”

Mr Andrews said the restrictions would be lifted when the virus had been successfully tested and tracked.

A range of services have already been made available to residents across the estates, including food and essential supplies, health care, mental health services and children's activity boxes.

The Victorian Multicultural Commission is also engaging community leaders and translators were now onsite doorknocking to help explain the directions and understand the individual assistance needed by tenants.

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