06/04/2020
What’s new?
Developments in the outbreak
- As of 6 April 2020, Victoria has 1,158 total confirmed cases, an increase of 23 since yesterday. 45 people are in hospital, including 11 people in intensive care. 10 people have died. 88 cases have an unknown source of infection, an increase of 13 since yesterday. 620 people have recovered.
- Of the total 1,158 cases, there have been 940 in metropolitan Melbourne and 212 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation.
- The total number of cases in Australia is currently 5,710. That is expected to increase significantly in coming weeks unless people stay at home.
- There have been 143 confirmed cases in healthcare workers, across 7 hospitals and 1 radiology clinic.
- Healthcare workers and paramedics who test positive to coronavirus (COVID-19) or are close contacts of confirmed cases can now self-isolate or self-quarantine in free hotel rooms under the Hotels for Heroes program.
- There have been changes to the testing criteria. New guidelines are available on this site.
- Up-to-date epidemiological data is available on our website.
- The Victorian Government now has 1000 people working-around-the-clock on contact tracing.
Updated advice to clinicians
- The testing criteria has been expanded to include any person meeting clinical criteria and aged 65 years or older or having worked in public facing roles in the following settings:
- firefighters who undertake emergency medical response
- childcare and early childhood education centres
- primary or secondary schools.
- Any in-patient with fever OR acute respiratory symptoms and no other cause can also be tested.
- Deaths due to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection must be notified to the department as soon as possible. Call 1300 651 160 (24 hours, seven days).
- Hospital discharge of confirmed COVID-19 cases can be determined on clinical grounds without prior approval by DHHS. Patients are not required to stay in hospital for the duration of their infectious period.
- If testing health care workers, doctors are reminded to clearly mark pathology slips with ‘HCW’ to ensure the swabs can be easily identified for priority testing.
- Doctors are reminded to ensure they include a mobile contact number on pathology slips for patients who have been tested.
- Physical (social) distancing measures should be consistently applied, if at all possible, including in clinical settings. The rule of 1 person for every 4 square metres must be maintained to ensure a safe physical distance.
Key messages for patients
- Stay home. Protect the health system. Save lives.
- There are only four reasons to leave home:
- shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies
- medical, care or compassionate needs
- exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements
- work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely
- We’re asking Victorians to stop looking for loopholes. The advice is clear, by staying at home you’re saving lives.
- New COVID-19 resources have been developed to provide guidance to GPs and health services including chronic disease management, palliative and end of life care, and advice for immunisations services.
- New mental health and wellbeing advice has been updated with a number of electronic resources available.
- A detailed FAQ on the stay at home directions has been developed and published on this site.
Current directions arising from the declared state of emergency
A range of restrictions are in place an include, staying at home, restrictions on particular activities, detention, restrictions on airports and cruise ships, aged care, hospitals and isolation.
These are defined in a list of Directions from the Chief Health Officer are in effect and can be viewed on the department's website.
Healthcare system
- Doctors, nurses, midwives and mental health professionals can deliver temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule and Department of Veterans’ Affairs items via telehealth, provided those services are bulk billed.
Flu Vaccinations
- All Victorians are encouraged to get their Flu Vaccination, now available from Pharmacies and GPs. The vaccination cannot protect you from COVID-19 but will ensure your immunity isn’t compromised further by contracting Influenza.
- From 1 April, Victorian pharmacists can administer approved vaccinations outside of their normal location – through the mobile and outreach services of a hospital, pharmacy or pharmacy depot, increasing access to immunisations for all Victorians.
- It is also easier for younger Victorians to get these immunisations from their local pharmacy. Appropriately trained pharmacists can now administer the flu shot to children 10 years of age and older.
- Pharmacists will also be able to administer the measles-mumps-rubella, meningococcal ACWY and whooping cough-containing vaccines to people 15 years of age and older – protecting young people from deadly diseases that, combined with the threat of coronavirus, could overwhelm the state’s hospitals.
Expanded testing criteria
- Victoria’s testing criteria has been expanded to include any person meeting clinical criteria and aged 65 years or older or having worked in public facing roles and settings:
- firefighters who undertake emergency medical response
- childcare and early childhood education centres
- primary or secondary schools.
- It will continue to include frontline healthcare workers (paid or unpaid), workers in healthcare, residential care, disability care, homelessness support, child protection workers, police officers and people that have recently returned from overseas.
More information
Clinical information
Health services and general practice - coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Consumer information
About Coronavirus (COVID-19) - information for the general public
World Health Organization - health topic - Coronavirus
Contacts
A public information hotline is provided by Health Direct – 1800 675 398.
Medical practitioners needing clinical information or to notify suspected or confirmed cases can contact the Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Diseases Section on 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
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