Victoria has recorded 177 cases of coronavirus overnight — the first time the state has recorded a daily total below 200 in three days.
Key points:
- There are now 1,612 active cases in the state and 72 Victorians in hospital
- More cases have emerged in aged care facilities
- The Chief Health Officer said he couldn't be confident things were heading in the right direction until there was a week of decreasing numbers
But the state's Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, said today's smaller number was no cause for complacency and the peak may still be yet to come.
Of the new cases, 151 are under investigation, 25 are linked to known outbreaks and one was detected in hotel quarantine.
Seventy-two Victorians with coronavirus are in hospital, 17 in intensive care.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there were now 1,612 active cases in the state.
He said the lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire would continue "as long as it needs to".
"But it need not be there for a moment longer than absolutely necessary if everyone simply follows the rules and does the right thing," he said.
Professor Sutton said it was great to see a daily figure lower than the recent peak. "But it may not be our peak yet," he said.
"I would like to see a week of decreasing numbers before I come and say I have greater confidence about the direction we're going in."
More cases detected in aged care facilities
Professor Sutton said a total of 26 cases had been linked to the Menarock Life aged care facility in Essendon, making it the biggest cluster linked to aged care in the state.
There are now 13 cases linked to the Glendale Aged Care facility in Werribee and two linked to the Japara Central Park Aged Care Home in Windsor.
The Chief Health Officer said the cases were a concern, but said most outbreaks in aged care facilities had been small.
"The vast majority of our aged care cases have been single staff members or sometimes multiple staff members without residents becoming infected," he said.
"But they're all at-risk settings and we need to be mindful of doing rapid lockdowns.
"The outbreak squads go out on the same day and they do broad testing of all the residents to identify cases early."
The numbers of cases linked to the Al-Taqwa College outbreak has grown to 144, he said. There were six cases linked to the LaManna Supermarket in Essendon and eight linked to Cenvic Construction in Footscray.
Professor Sutton said new cases had also emerged among Somerville Meats staff in quarantine, bringing the total of the outbreak to 12.
Stage four restrictions not ruled out yet, Premier says
Today is the eighth consecutive day Victoria has recorded triple-digit increases in its daily coronavirus figures.
Mr Andrews said he could not rule out implementing further restrictions in Victoria but "we're not there yet".
"If you don't want stage four, if you don't want the lockdown to last a moment longer, then please follow the rules," he said.
He described the coronavirus as a "very complex, cunning, clever enemy" and urged everyone to follow public health advice.
New online mental health service for young Victorians
The Premier said young people in some of Melbourne's hardest hit areas — including northern and western suburbs and in public housing — would be among the first to benefit from a new mental health service.
The Moderated Online Social Therapy tool, known as MOST, will offer tailored therapy and peer support.
Its first users are existing clients of the Orygen mental health service. Public housing tenants can be referred directly by their Headspace or mental health clinician.
A statewide rollout of the program is planned over the next year.
"This is an anxious and uncertain time for everyone," Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said.
"Investing in people's mental health and wellbeing will not only save lives but is critical to our social and economic recovery after this crisis is over."
The State Government said it had allocated $59.4 million for coronavirus mental health initiatives, including $6 million to fast-track the MOST program.
More to come.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA3LTEzL3ZpY3RvcmlhLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNvdmlkLTE5LWNhc2VzLXJpc2UtYnktMTc3LzEyNDQ4NDIw0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNDQ4NDIw?oc=5
2020-07-13 01:11:00Z
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