Coronavirus: One new death and 20 new cases in Victoria

A man has died and infections in Victoria have spiked as the outbreak continues to worsen with double-digit increases for eight days straight.

Victoria has recorded one new coronavirus death and 20 new cases in the past 24 hours, meaning the state has now seen double-digit increases for eight days straight.

Eight of the new cases are community-spread and only one of them was from hotel quarantine.

Victorian chief medical officer, professor Brett Sutton, said a man in his 80s died from the disease overnight. His death brings the total number of deaths in Victoria to 20 and the national total to 103. It is the first death linked to the virus in Australia since May 23.

Here’s what we know so far about the 20 new cases in Victoria.

Ten new coronavirus cases have also been recorded in NSW in the past 24 hours, however all of them are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

In contrast, of Victoria’s new cases seven are linked to known outbreaks, one is in hotel quarantine, nine through routine testing (where people go into a clinic to be tested) and three others are under investigation – meaning they don’t know where they could have caught the virus.

There are now 241 cases that have been identified that indicate community transmission. That’s an increase of eight since yesterday.

In terms of clusters, there are three staff members who tested positive at the Hampstead dental clinic.

Brett Sutton the Chief Health Officer of Victoria revealed the figures this morning. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

All staff members of the clinic will be tested but there are no patients who had been identified as close contacts.

There are three new cases linked to the Keilor Downs family. All three were existing close contacts of known cases.

That brings to 15 the total number in that outbreak.

There’s an additional household contact of an H&M Northland staff member which brings that outbreak to a total of five.

Another case is a close social contact of the St Monica’s College, Epping, case which brings that number to two.

An early learning centre in Essendon is closed today after a child tested positive. Contact tracing and cleaning are underway.

Mr Brett Sutton said Victoria was able to test 20,000 people a day for the virus as officials move to crack down on several clusters of outbreaks and trace and quarantine contacts of infected people.

Health officials will begin doorknocking hot spots across Melbourne to ensure residents are sticking to government guidelines.

Information in languages other than English will also be provided for multicultural communities in heavily affected areas.

This graph shows the last week of new confirmed cases nationwide. Picture: covid19data.com.au

The state’s hotels are under fire for failing to effectively quarantine people with coronavirus after several security guards became infected. Mr Sutton said social distancing requirements had been reinforced to contracted security staff.

“They know the protocols in regards to how to manage accompanying guests for fresh air,” he told reporters.

“So the same messages in terms of the distance they need to keep and the hygiene procedures that they will need to go through routinely.”

The issue will be raised at a national cabinet meeting on Friday.

“Certainly breaches of those quarantine rules are very serious and we know the broader implications they have for the health of the nation,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told Sky News on Wednesday. “We do need serious rules in place to ensure that doesn’t occur.”

Leaders from other states have warned people not to visit Melbourne, with NSW rolling out a social media advertising campaign telling its residents to think twice about travel.

There has been a big spike in testing in Melbourne. Picture: William West/AFP

States that have successfully suppressed the coronavirus will soon allow their residents a taste of pre-pandemic-style freedom.

South Australia will join Western Australia in halving the density rules for people in restaurants, bars, shops and other indoor venues to two square metres per patron.

The move, which effectively doubles the capacity of each venue, has been welcomed by the hospitality industry.

The national tally of cases is 7512, with close to 7000 recovered while 103 people have died.

– With AAP