Coronavirus live updates: Defence Force awaits new plan from Victoria

Hundreds of soldiers were supposed to arrive in Victoria today to help the virus-stricken state bring its outbreak under control - but now that plan is up in the air.

Victoria has recorded 33 new coronavirus cases - marking the state's ninth consecutive day of double digit increases - and another death.

 

More than 1000 Australian Defence Force troops were expected to be in Victoria from today, monitoring hotel quarantine as well as providing logistical and medical support for the state’s coronavirus testing blitz. But plans to have 850 ADF members involved in hotel quarantine are being revised.

“Our top priority is on planning and logistics assistance, and medical personnel to support our suburban testing blitz,” a state government spokeswoman said.

“We are finalising our plans for hotel quarantine, including any additional roles the ADF might be able to play.”

Premier Dan Andrews said numbers will continue to increase in the coming days as authorities test "entire suburbs" - listing ten suburbs that will be "blitzed" .

"We will see these numbers go up in coming days," he said. "That will be a measure of the work that we're doing, a measure of the success of this strategy.

Those suburbs are Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Sunshine West, Albanvale, Hallam, Brunswick West, Reservoir, Pakenham, Fawkner.

More than 1000 ADF troops are being sent to Victoria to help with hotel quarantine and provide logistical support for testing.

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