Is my area a coronavirus hotspot? West Melbourne surges in cases

Victoria is in the grip of a second wave of coronavirus cases as a massive spike in community transmission sees face masks become mandatory across the state.

The wearing of masks across Melbourne has become mandatory as Victoria is gripped by a second wave of COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Victoria has recorded its second-highest ever daily increase in coronavirus numbers, with 627 new cases on Friday, following Thursday’s record of 723.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says eight more people have died of the coronavirus, bringing the state’s death toll to 112.

Among the deceased are two men in their 50s while four of the deaths can be linked to aged care, he said.

There are now 347 people in hospital, with 37 in ICU and 928 active cases in aged care settings.

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Cases in your local area

Active confirmed cases of COVID-19 by LGA as of Friday:

WYNDHAM - 671

BRIMBANK - 658

HUME - 460

MELBOURNE - 270

WHITTLESEA - 435

MORELAND - 320

MOONEE VALLEY - 212

MELTON - 340

CASEY - 243

BANYULE - 141

MARIBYRNONG - 179

YARRA - 170

DAREBIN - 140

GREATER DANDENONG - 156

STONNINGTON - 53

BORRONDARA - 60

HOBSONS BAY - 81

MONASH - 67

GREATER GEELONG - 73

YARRA RANGES - 108

PORT PHILLIP - 50

WHITEHORSE - 64

GLEN EIRA - 52

MANNINGHAM - 44

KINGSTON - 55

FRANKSTON - 47

MORNINGTON PENINSULA - 15

COLAC OTWAY - 78

BAYSIDE - 41

NILLUMBIK - 45

KNOX - 42

CARDINIA - 34

MAROONDAH - 43

MITCHELL - 20

GREATER BENDIGO - 19

MACEDON RANGES - 19

BALLARAT - 10

GREATER SHEPPARTON - 1

LATROBE - 6

MOORABALL - 12

GLENELG - 13

SURF COAST - 4

GOLDEN PLAINS - 8

WELLINGTON - 0

BASS COAST - 4

BAW BAW - 3

MOUNT ALEXANDER - 3

SOUTH GIPPSLAND - 3

ARARAT - 1

CAMPASPE - 1

LODDON - 3

MANSFIELD - 2

SWAN HILL - 2

WARRNAMBOOL - 1

MILDURA - 0

NORTHERN GRAMPIANS - 1

BENALLA - 0

MURRINDINDI - 1

SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS - 1

EAST GIPPSLAND - 1

GANNAWARRA - 0

HEPBURN - 0

STRATHBOGIE - 0

WANGARATTA - 0

WEST WIMMERA - 1

WODONGA - 1

ALPINE - 0

CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS - 0

CORANGAMITE - 0

MOYNE - 0

BULOKE - 0

HINDMARSH - 0

INDIGO - 0

PYRENEES - 0

QUEENSCLIFFE - 0

TOWONG - 0

UNKNOWN - 128

Source: Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

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Key areas

From Friday, residents of the local government areas of Colac-Otway, Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliffe will no longer be able to visit people or have visitors.

But residents will still be allowed to have dinner at restaurants.

Mr Andrews said while it may feel counterintuitive, transmission data indicated people kept their distance less when in their homes than in a venue.

“People are not necessarily keeping their distance in their family homes, it’s a natural thing you let your guard down,” he said.

“Hugs and kisses and handshakes - not necessarily adhering to the protocols that are a feature of hospitality, cafes, pubs being open: They are supervised environments, they are regulated environments.

Mr Andrews said of regional Victoria’s 255 active cases, 159 had occurred in Colac-Otway, Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains and the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton are as follows:

• 311 cases are residents of various public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. Investigations are continuing into how these cases are linked.

• 66 cases are residents of various public housing towers in Carlton. Investigations are continuing into if and/or how these cases are linked.

Cases currently linked to key outbreaks are as follows:

• 121 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown

• 106 cases have been linked to Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham

• 82 cases have been linked to JBS in Brooklyn

• 64 cases have been linked to Australian Lamb Company in Colac

• 30 cases have been linked to Woolworths Distribution Centre Mulgrave

• 30 cases have been linked to Melbourne Health Royal Park Campus

• 22 cases have been linked to Respite Services Australia in Moonee Ponds

• 20 cases have been linked to Nino Early Learning Adventures in Bundoora

• 19 cases have been linked to Hazeldean Transition Care, Western Health

• 16 cases have been linked to the Linfox Warehouse in Truganina

• 11 cases have been linked to Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North

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Face masks

Face masks will be mandatory across Victoria from Monday, August 3, after the number of coronavirus cases soared.

Describing mandatory mask wearing as “essentially stage four for Melbourne”, Mr Andrews said the statewide face covering order was about keeping numbers low.

“In very basic terms, we need to jealously guard those low numbers,” he said.

Current exemptions from mask wearing in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, including for strenuous exercise, will apply to the regions.

Victoria Police will enforce the wearing of masks in regional Victoria with breaches carrying fines of $200, Mr Andrews confirmed.

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Aged care facilities

Acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly said of “major concern” is ongoing community transmission in particular outbreaks in aged care facilities.

He said six of Victoria’s new coronavirus cases were residents of aged care facilities, bringing the total number of infected residents to 456 out of 5000 active cases in Victoria.

Professor Kelly also confirmed a further 58 new aged care staff members had contracted COVID-19.

Active aged care outbreaks with the highest cumulative case numbers are as follows:

• 94 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer

• 111 cases have been linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner

• 90 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping

• 81 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth

• 67 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg

• 62 cases have been linked to Menarock Life Aged Care Facility in Essendon

• 56 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee

• 52 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Weribee

• 49 cases have been linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North

• 42 cases have been linked to Arcare Aged Care Facility in Craigieburn

A single case in a staff member has been notified at the BlueCross Willowmeade residential aged care facility in Kilmore. The facility has been locked down and all staff and residents will be tested.

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A state in lockdown

As Victoria entered the second half of a six-week lockdown on Thursday, Mr Andrews said it was too early to know if the restriction period would be prolonged or cut short.

“One day’s data is not a trend and that’s been borne out today so I can’t tell you where we’re going to be in another three weeks,” he said.

“What I can say though is if people continue to go to work when they’ve got symptoms or going to work when they’re getting their test results…. That’s just going to see these numbers to continue to grow and restrictions will have to stay on.”

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