Victoria records 21 new local cases of coronavirus

Victoria has recorded 21 new local cases as Melbourne’s sixth lockdown rolls on for at least another seven days.

Victoria has recorded 21 new local cases of coronavirus on Thursday as Melbourne’s sixth lockdown rolls on for at least another seven days.

But there is a glimmer of hope, with 15 of those in quarantine during their infectious periods.

There were four new mystery cases – down from five on Wednesday.

“Of the locally-acquired cases, 17 have been linked to current outbreaks and 4 are still under investigation. 15 have been in quarantine throughout their infectious periods,” Victorian health officials confirmed.

On Wednesday, Victorian officials said there was no other option but to extend Melbourne’s lockdown due to “too many” mystery cases being out in the community.

Three of Wednesday’s five mystery infections were from a family in Melton in the city’s western suburbs – two parents and a child.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wants to see mystery cases go down before lifting lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The child was already in isolation as a contact of another primary close contact, but health officials were yet to find a direct link.

The remaining two mystery cases were a father and a son in the City of Melbourne.

The son was a student in Grade 1 at St Michael’s Primary School, but he was not at school while infectious.

His father was a health care worker who last worked at the Melbourne Royal Children’s Eye Clinic last Monday.

The classmates of the student were being tested as having tier 1 coronavirus exposure, while the health facility where the father worked was deemed a tier 2 exposure site.

Health authorities will front the media later on Thursday.