Rising number of coronavirus cases in Victoria signal second wave

A rising number of people testing positive for coronavirus in Victoria has sparked concerns the state could see a second wave.

There are fears a second wave could be hitting Victoria after the state has seen a spike in new coronavirus cases in the past week.

As Australian states and territories move towards reopening following months of lockdown, the resurgence of cases in Victoria has sparked fears among medical experts.

Victoria reported 13 new cases overnight - only one of which was the result of community transmission.

But of the state’s 18 new coronavirus cases yesterday, 12 were the result of community transmission, which Victorian deputy chief health officer Annaliese van Diemen said, “have been enough to make us a bit worried”.

“It might just be a blip, it might be two days of high case numbers, it might be a second wave – I hope it’s not,” Dr van Diemen told reporters yesterday.

“We don’t know what’s out there in the community. That is why we … need people to get tested if they have got symptoms.”

Australian Medical Association President Tony Bartone echoed Dr van Diemen’s concerns on Today this morning.

“(It is) exactly the sort of numbers we don’t want to see, especially as we look towards relaxing to the next wave of restrictions on Monday,” he said.

“Those number of community transmissions, at this stage of the cycle, is a concern.”

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A third Black Lives Matter protester was among Victoria’s new virus cases on Thursday. Picture: Alex Coppel

Victorian deputy chief health officer Annaliese van Diemen said the increased case numbers were enough to make authorities worried. Picture: James Ross/AAP

A third Black Lives Matter protester was among the new cases announced yesterday, as well as 15 returned overseas travellers already in hotel quarantine.

From June 22, the state’s clubs and pubs will be allowed to serve drinks without a meal for up to 50 people if they are seated, cafes and restaurants will be able to increase their capacity to 50 customers, and cinemas, theatres and concert venues can reopen to cater for 50 seated patrons.

Dr Bartone said the next week or two for Victorians will be critical.

“Obviously the authorities will be watching that carefully over the next few days and we wouldn’t want to see too many more days like that being reported,” he said.

While health officials anticipated “little bursts around the country” as more restrictions lift and the weather gets colder, Dr Bartone said the increased cases in Victoria were of concern.

“Certainly eight, 10, a dozen, double-digit community transmission cases is a concern and will potentially point to more down the track so we’ve got to watch the next few days carefully,” he said.

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Dr van Diemen attributed the steady trickle of positive cases to a high level of testing, a lot of “active case finding” and contact tracing, and a large number of people living in one metropolitan area in Melbourne.

Australia’s deputy chief health officer Michael Kidd has also said the effective contact-tracing process in Victoria was part of the reason why new cases continue to be recorded.

“When an outbreak does occur the contact tracers (in Victoria) move in very quickly to try and identify other cases, and as those cases are identified then the numbers rise,” he said.

As measures continue to lift, Dr Bartone urged everyone to remain vigilant to prevent community spread.

“It is important that everyone remembers that, yes, the restrictions are being lifted but we still have to do all the things – physical distancing, cough etiquette, hygiene, having the COVIDSafe app turned on. All these things will help us,” he said.

“If we take for granted the wins that we’ve had so far, we’re going to undo those wins and really look at the possibility of having to put some of those measures back in.”