Victoria records 603 new local cases of coronavirus as testing numbers lashed by experts

Victoria has recorded 603 new local cases of coronavirus overnight but another troubling figure has health experts extremely worried.

Victoria has recorded 603 local cases of Covid-19 and one death on Tuesday as experts fear low testing rates mean there are more undetected cases in the community.

Nearly 49,000 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, within the usual margins of 40-60,000 recorded each day.

But epidemiologist Peter Collignon said this number was way too low, and should be sitting closer to about 150,000 – the figure NSW was consistently racking up at the same stage in their outbreak.

“I worry the testing numbers in Victoria are lower than what they should be,” he said.

“If NSW can get close to 150,000 then Victoria should be in that same range.

“If you had 600 cases with 60,000 tests that‘s a one per cent positivity rate … it implies we’re missing a lot of positive cases in the community.”

Nearly 49,000 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours in Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

The last time the state posted more than 600 daily infections was on August 4 last year when 686 cases were recorded.

On Tuesday, more than 40,811 Victorians turned up for a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

More than 72 per cent of eligible Victorians have received one dose of the jab, while 44.1 per cent are double-jabbed.

There are 6000 active cases across the state.

Monday night’s death was a woman in her 70s from the Hume region.

Victoria’s chief health officer professor Brett Sutton said 40 per cent of Tuesday’s 603 cases could be linked to Hume. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Victoria’s chief health officer professor Brett Sutton said 40 per cent of Tuesday’s 603 cases could be linked to the local government area in Melbourne’s north.

There were 242 cases in Hume, 53 in Whittlesea, 56 in Moreland, 14 in Darebin and 12 in Yarra.

While in the city’s west, 47 of Tuesday’s 603 cases were in Wyndham, 39 in Brimbank, 20 in Melton and 12 in Hobsons Bay.

Professor Sutton said there were 10 new cases overnight in regional Victoria, including three in the locked-down Mitchell shire.

There were three new cases in the Moorabool shire, one new infection in Ballarat, one case in Geelong, another in Macedon Ranges and one case on the Bass Coast.

Victorians queue at the vaccination clinic at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victorian pharmacies have begun receiving supplies of the Moderna vaccine, providing a third option for those yet to be vaccinated.

More than 300,000 doses are expected to arrive in ­Victoria this month, with 440 pharmacies administering Moderna from this week and another 281 joining the rollout after that.

The mRNA vaccine, which is similar to Pfizer, will be used to inoculate people aged 12 to 59.

Originally published as Victoria records 603 new local cases of coronavirus as testing numbers lashed by experts