Victoria Covid-19: State records 11 coronavirus cases

Victoria has recorded 11 new Covid-19 cases overnight during a critical 24-hour period in deciding whether to introduce a lockdown.

Victoria has recorded 11 coronavirus cases overnight, as a cluster that started in Melbourne’s northern suburbs continues to grow.

The state’s Department of Health reported that that there were 34 active cases in the state on Thursday morning.

It reported 12 new cases on Thursday, however one had previously been revealed in Wednesday’s figures.

There are now 26 cases linked to an outbreak which is of the Indian variant of COVID-19.

The past 24 hours had been described as critical by Acting Premier James Merlino, who had warned that he couldn’t rule out taking “further action” to stop the spread.

A press conference is expected on Thursday where Mr Merlino will reveal whether there will be a lockdown.

People are being urged to get tested if they have symptoms. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Of particular concern to authorities is a bar crawl an infectious person went on in South Yarra and Prahran on Saturday night until the early hours of Sunday morning.

A growing list of exposure sites had led to fears Melbourne could be plunged into a snap lockdown – a fourth lockdown for the city.

Earlier in the week the government introduced restrictions including wearing masks indoors in all settings, a limit of five people in homes, and no more than 30 for public gatherings.

The number of tests has remained high with 40,411 carried out in the last 24 hours.

People have been fleeing Melbourne due to fears the city could be locked down while panic buying has also returned.

There were 79 exposure sites as of Thursday morning including a McDonald’s, an Anytime Fitness gym and a Kmart.

Genomic testing has revealed the Melbourne outbreak is linked to a man who caught COVID-19 while in hotel quarantine in South Australia and went to his home in the suburb of Wollert before realising he was infected.

Contact tracers continue to work to establish the link between the man and the 26 known subsequent infections, with fears the virus could be more widespread than is currently known.

South Australia has closed its border, and Queensland has declared Whittlesea council area in Melbourne’s north a hotspot meaning the border is closed to anyone who has been there since May 11.

NSW has advised residents not to travel to Melbourne unless essential.

In Western Australia people entering from Victoria must quarantine upon arrival.