Your guide to coronavirus cases in regional Victoria
There are two more active coronavirus cases in regional Victoria than yesterday, with the rolling average daily case number now at 4.7. Here are the latest case numbers.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. For full access to The Weekly Times, subscribe here.
(These figures are accurate as of 11.59pm Thursday, September 10)
THERE have been 1195 cases of coronavirus confirmed in regional Victoria, with 74 of these active.
The total number of cases increased by eight overnight, with the active total increasing by two.
Victoria has recorded nine more coronavirus deaths since yesterday, taking the total number in the state to 710.
Statewide, 43 new cases were reported. The overall total increased by 39 due to four cases being reclassified.
Today’s rolling daily average case number for regional Victoria is 4.7, an increase of 0.2 on yesterday. The daily average case number is calculated by averaging out the number of new cases over the past 14 days.
Victoria is in a State of Disaster.
Regional Victoria could re-open next week and skip two steps on the Andrews Government’s road map, as 38 local government areas go at least 14 days without any new coronavirus cases. But there’s one “mystery” case that could derail it all.
A national cabinet meeting on September 4 saw five out of eight states agree on an Agricultural Workers’ Code to allow ag workers to cross the borders.
Stage three “stay at home” restrictions are in place for regional Victoria and stage four restrictions for Melbourne.
The South Australian hard border restrictions have been eased, which means border residents in Victoria are able to travel 40km into the neighbouring state without an exemption.
Meanwhile, the NSW Government have also backflipped on its tight border rules, reinstating a 50km zone to ease pain for families and schoolchildren.
There has been a fresh coronavirus outbreak at a large Victorian dairy manufacturer. See what ag companies, including at least 14 meat processors, have been hit by the virus since July.
Face masks or coverings are now mandatory across the state, “whenever you leave home”.
Mr Andrews told The Weekly Times workers and other outside visitors to Victorian farms must wear masks, while solo farmers and on-farm family members can be mask free.
The total number of cases in Victoria is 19,767 and of these, 1336 are active.
140 people are in hospital, including 12 patients in intensive care, and 17,661 people have recovered from the virus.
There have been 18,397 confirmed cases in metropolitan Melbourne. The rolling case number in metropolitan Melbourne is 65.3.
More than 2,456,924 tests have been processed across the state, an increase of 14,805 since yesterday.
Case totals can and do decease as more information emerges.
SCROLL DOWN FOR CASE NUMBERS BY SHIRE
EXPANDED TESTING IN REGIONAL VICTORIA
The Department of Health and Human Services has set up Incident Management Teams in Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong to work with the community to offer more testing, share local information and provide welfare support to those impacted by the virus.
In Bendigo, the local health service is undertaking contact tracing with all positive cases. Free testing is available at bulk billing GP clinics, Latrobe University’s Bendigo Rural Health School, Bendigo Health Hospital Respiratory Clinic and Bendigo Respiratory Clinic at Spring Gully Primary Health.
There’s also free testing taking place in Ballarat at local bulk billing GP clinics, Ballarat Health Services – Sebastopol Clinic, Ballarat Respiratory Clinic and the Ballarat Senior Citizens Centre.
DHHS has also opened a new Covid Regional Response Unit at Albury Wodonga Health which is run by infectious disease experts who work with Goulburn Valley Health and the Department’s public health team.
Teams have also been established at Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Ballarat Health Services and Latrobe Regional Hospital.
MORE
NATIONAL CODE FOR AG CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL
YOUR STAGE 3 QUESTIONS ANSWERED
AG COMPANIES HIT BY CORONAVIRUS
TRAVELLING
All states and territories have shut their borders to Victoria.
CASES BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Case breakdowns by shire, rural city and cities in this guide are updated as the state Department of Health and Human Services releases latest data.
Note:
RESIDENTIAL location is the residential address provided when the case is notified;
THIS is not where they were infected and may not be where the case currently resides;
NUMBERS are correct as of 11.59pm last night (Wednesday) but are subject to change as cases are followed up and data is analysed; and
ACTIVE cases shown in brackets are defined as someone who has tested positive, is currently in isolation and being monitored by the Department and who has not yet recovered.
SHIRES
Alpine 1
Bass Coast 11
Baw Baw 16 (2 active case)
Buloke 0
Campaspe 10 (1 active case)
Central Goldfields 2
Colac Otway 131 (33 active cases)
Corangamite 3
East Gippsland 5 (1 active case)
Gannawarra 2
Glenelg 20
Golden Plains 18
Hepburn 2
Hindmarsh 0
Indigo 1
Loddon 4
Macedon Ranges 57 (1 active case)
Mansfield 10
Mitchell 86
Moira 12
Mount Alexander 9
Moorabool 40 (6 active cases)
Moyne 1
Murrindindi 9
Northern Grampians 3
Pyrenees 3 (1 active case)
Southern Grampians 3
South Gippsland 12 (1 active case)
Strathbogie 2
Surf Coast 18
Towong 0
Wellington 16
West Wimmera 1
Yarriambiack 1
BOROUGH
Queenscliffe 2
RURAL CITIES
Ararat 7
Benalla 3
Horsham 13 (2 active cases)
Mildura 6
Swan Hill 5
Wangaratta 2
Wodonga 2
CITIES
Ballarat 59
Bendigo (Greater) 105 (2 active cases)
Geelong (Greater) 363 (10 active cases)
Latrobe 56 (12 active cases)
Shepparton (Greater) 50 (1 active case)
Warrnambool 13 (1 active case)
PERIURBAN SHIRES AND CITIES**
Cardinia (Shire of) 205 (15 active cases)
Casey (City of) 991 (72 active cases)
Hume (City of) 1624 (78 active cases)
Melton (City of) 1118 (93 active cases)
Mornington Peninsula (Shire of) 183 (6 active cases)
Nillumbik (Shire of) 131 (4 active cases)
Whittlesea (City of) 1198 (47 active cases)
Wyndham (City of) 2181 (157 active cases)
Yarra Ranges (Shire of) 252 (9 active cases)
**The Department of Health and Human Services does not include cases in these municipalities in the regional total.
STAY AT HOME
Source: Department of Health and Human Services
Face masks and coverings are mandatory “whenever you leave home” across Victoria.
People who do not wear face coverings and do not have a lawful excuse can be fined $200.
According to the Department of Health website, there are a number of lawful excuses for not wearing a face covering, including a medical condition or other condition that impairs your ability to wear a face covering, doing strenuous exercise (such as running) or if you are unable to do your job while wearing a face covering.
Children under 12 years old do not need to wear a face covering and children two years or younger must not wear face coverings as they are a choking and suffocation risk.
Melbourne entered stage four restrictions at 6pm, August 2.
A total 32 council areas are subject to the lockdown, including peri-urban councils Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Ranges and Melton.
Regional Victoria entered stage three “stay at home” restrictions at midnight on Wednesday, August 5.
If you live in regional Victoria, you can only leave you home for four reasons;
SHOPPING for food and essential items.
CARE and caregiving.
DAILY exercise.
WORK and study, if you can’t do it from home.
There are three key actions that all Victorians are being asked to continue:
KEEP your distance – stay 1.5 metres away from others.
PRACTISE good hygiene.
STAY at home if you are unwell.
Visit the Directions issued by the Chief Health Officer page for more.
WHERE TO GET TESTED
Source: Department of Health and Human Services
People get tested for coronavirus at many places across Victoria. To find out what’s available near you, call the 24-hour coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398.
If you have symptoms, you can visit:
YOUR local general practitioner. Call them before you visit. They may perform a test or refer you to a pathology provider for swab collection;
A GP respiratory clinic. Visit the Australian Government coronavirus (COVID-19) site for a full list of GP respiratory clinics and how to book an appointment;
A VICTORIAN hospital respiratory clinic;
A COMMUNITY Health Centre respiratory clinic;
A MOBILE drive-through clinic at a shopping centre; or
A REGIONAL walk-through clinic.
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.