Coronavirus Victoria: 331 new cases and 19 deaths recorded

Victoria has recorded 331 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, making it the state’s equal deadliest day.

Victoria has recorded 331 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours.

The state’s Department of Health and Human Services announced the numbers in a tweet, confirming its equal deadliest day after 19 lives were lost in the 24 hours leading up to Monday as well.

There were 331 new cases of #coronavirus (#COVID19) detected in Victoria in the last 24 hours.
Sadly, 19 deaths were reported.#Covid19VicData pic.twitter.com/bajE79zjUy

— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 10, 2020

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Victorian authorities have warned that there will be many more deaths ahead for the state.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd noted the drop in coronavirus cases in Victoria was “promising”, but said deaths usually follow around seven to 10 days after someone is first diagnosed.

“We are seeing the first promising signs of a reduction in daily numbers of cases, but it is too early to be certain,” Prof Kidd said at a press conference on Monday.

“We need to follow the numbers very closely over the coming week.

“While it‘s heartening to see the declining number of cases being reported each day from Victoria – and we have seen that over the past five days – while we still have hundreds of cases being reported each day, we will continue to have people admitted to hospital and people becoming gravely unwell. And sadly some of those people will die.

“We are now at the end of the first week of these stage four restrictions in Victoria.

“And so what we hope we will see over the coming week is the number of new infections each day will continue to decline hopefully.

“There is a 7-10 day lag between the daily reports in numbers of cases and people dying, some people sadly die very early in the course of COVID-19, but for many people it is a week or more after they have been infected that we see people who are gravely unwell.”

It comes as Victoria‘s Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jenny Mikakos face a parliamentary inquiry into the state government’s response to the pandemic today.

They, along with chief health officer Brett Sutton, will face questions about their knowledge and handling of the hotel quarantine system.

New claims about problems at two hotels still being used for Melbourne‘s quarantine program suggest the state’s problems are not over.

According to The Australian, there are written complaints from staff suggesting major problems with security, infection control and tensions between medical staff, police and government officials.

The concerns centre around the Hotel Brady in Little LaTrobe Street and the Grand Chancellor in Lonsdale Street.

“We are shocked at some language coming from DHHS team leaders when requests are made — ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’, ‘Well tell them they won’t be allowed any Uber Eats if they want that’ — it’s punitive and not right,” a source told The Australian.

The written complaints and comments from the staff member expose tensions between nurses seconded to the hotels and Department of Health and Human Service officials managing the program.

The hotel staff member said medical workers had serious concerns about the DHHS management of the hotels.