Victoria has recorded 428 new coronavirus cases, marking the state’s highest single-day total, and 12th day in a row of triple-digit increases. Three further deaths have been recorded.
160 cases have been linked to the cluster outbreak at Al-Taqwa College, 51 cases have been linked to Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham, 38 cases were linked to Menarock Aged Care in Essendon, 32 cases were linked to JBS abattoir in Brooklyn, 19 cases were linked to Northern Hospital, 16 cases were linked to Brunswick Private Hospital, 23 cases were linked to Glendale Aged Care in Werribee whilst other single cases have been traced back to various aged care facilities.
In a press conference today, Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded with Victorians. “Follow the rules, please come forward and get tested if you get ill.”
The premier expressed that whilst most Victorians are following coronavirus restrictions, “There are others trying to find loopholes, trying to navigate through a set of rules.”
“The rules are to protect you,” he emphasised. “Pretending it’s over because we want it to be over, that is not a strategy at all.”
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has expressed hope that numbers will stabilise in coming days, but he expects more coronavirus hospitalizations.
“There will be dozens of individuals who will require hospitalisation from these 428 people. Tragically, there will be several who require intensive care support and a number of people will die, and whenever we have a day of these numbers that is the case,” Professor Sutton shared.
Stage four restrictions have not been implemented in Victoria but have not yet been ruled out.
“Everything is on the table,” Prof. Sutton said.
“There are lots and lots of measures that we need to bear in mind, and we shouldn’t discount anything, we do need to follow the epidemiology and understand where transmission is occurring.”
13 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in New South Wales. Eight of those cases were confirmed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The Crossroads Hotel cluster has grown to 42 cases.
