Coronavirus Victoria: Where the new cases are coming from on Wednesday, July 1

Victoria has recorded another 73 coronavirus cases overnight with a “significant concentration” of cases located in Melbourne hot spots.

Victoria has recorded an extra 73 cases overnight, bringing the state’s total to 2231 cases.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday it was “pleasing” that there was “some sense of stability to these numbers”.

“We are finding new cases but there is the beginnings of some consistency here and that is obviously better than other options where we might see doubling and doubling again,” he told reporters.

Wednesday’s figure is lower than the 75 cases recorded on Monday, which was the highest number of new cases since March 31.

Mr Andrews broke down where the new cases in Victoria came from:

• 3 were from people in hotel quarantine;

• 9 were linked to known outbreaks;

• 19 were identified through routine testings; and

• 42 are still under investigation.

Mr Andrews said a “significant concentration” of today's new cases were located in hot spots identified in Melbourne that have been forced back into lockdown.

“We are still seeing a really significant concentration in those hot spots,” Mr Andrews told reporters today.

“That’s a trend that is holding up. That’s not surprising given the amount of testing we are doing and the fact we have located those as the most unstable, the most high-risk areas.”

In a statement released later, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services provided more detail about the cases.

The new cases linked to outbreaks are:

• Five extra staff linked to the outbreak at Al Taqwa College, taking the total to eight staff at the school;

• Two new cases are part of the Stamford Plaza outbreak, taking the total to 31. One is a security guard in quarantine and the other is a household contact of a confirmed case.

• A new case linked to the North Melbourne outbreak, which now totals 30. The case was tested while in quarantine; and

• A new case linked to the outbreak at the Coles Chilled Distribution Centre in Laverton, taking the total to six.

Other new cases include:

• Three associated with Hugo Boss in Collins Street, Melbourne;

• A healthcare worker at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital;

• A healthcare worker at Epworth;

• A staff member at SBS Radio;

• Students at three new schools: Hoppers Crossing Secondary School, Creekside College in Caroline Springs and Aitken Creek Primary in Craigieburn. A staff member also tested positive at Westbreen Primary School in Pascoe Vale; and

• Two cases at the Maple Early Learning Centre in Mernda.

This is the 15th consecutive day of double-digit case growth in Victoria, with a continuing number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families that has led to several postcodes being put into lockdown.

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Some areas of Melbourne will go back into lockdown from Thursday. Picture: Ian Currie

The Premier again faced criticism about his government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with one reporter asking why it had taken so long for authorities to take action on hotel quarantine despite reporters raising problems for weeks.

Mr Andrews rejected the characterisation and said a number of changes to hotel quarantine had been made over a lengthy period of time.

He said he announced an inquiry into the hotel quarantine program after a genomic sequencing report found a “very significant number” of cases in late May and early June could be linked to a breach of infection control protocols by staff at the hotels.

“That left me in no doubt … there was a significant infection control problem and on that basis the inquiry has been announced,” he said.

He said there had been unacceptable infection control breaches in hotel quarantine.

More information about the origin of today’s cases will be released this afternoon.

The Premier said 20,682 tests were done on Tuesday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has faced questions over his government’s handling of the virus outbreak. Picture: James Ross/AAP

“I’ll take this opportunity to thank every single one of those going on for 21,000 people who presented for a test. Thank you so much,” Mr Andrews said. “That is such a powerful contribution to our fight against this virus.”

Since January 1, the state has done 830,271 tests, with about 113,000 tests done in hot spots.

About 360 new cases have been diagnosed since a suburban testing blitz began on Thursday. The majority are linked to community transmission.

On Tuesday, Premier Andrews announced that from Thursday, people living in the inner north and west postcodes of 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060 and 3064 will return to lockdown until at least July 29.

Much like earlier stage three restrictions, residents of the postcodes will only be able to leave their homes to shop for food and supplies, to receive or provide care, to exercise, and study or work if they can’t do so from home.

Police will be actively patrolling the suburbs and fining people $1652 if they leave home for non-essential reasons, while main transport corridors in and out will be the subject of “booze bus-type checks”.

Businesses and facilities in these areas that reopened – including beauty parlours, gyms, libraries and swimming pools – will have to close, while cafes and restaurants will only be open for takeaway and delivery.

All affected businesses will eligible for a $5000 grant or a payroll tax refund.

Mr Andrews said almost 17,500 tests were performed in the hot spots on Monday, bringing the total number of tests in the past three days to more than 93,000. But some people are still refusing to be tested, including 928 people in the suburbs of Broadmeadows and Keilor Downs.

Meanwhile, international flights will be diverted from Victoria to other states for two weeks as a former judge begins an inquiry into the hotel quarantine program.

Genomic testing has indicated a “very significant number” of cases in late May and early June could be linked to a breach of infection control protocols by staff at the hotels.

About 800 federal public servants and clinical staff will join the Australian Defence Force in helping run the suburban testing blitz and Mr Andrews said he wouldn’t hesitate to ask for extra help if needed.

— With AAP