This Chief Health Officer update is intended to provide clinicians and the Victorian public with information about the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria as well as relevant public health response activities in Victoria. Chief Health Officer Alerts will continue to be issued when there are changes to the public health advice related to COVID-19.

11/04/2020

What's new?

Developments in the outbreak

  • As of 11 April 2020, Victoria has 1265 total confirmed cases, an increase of 24 since yesterday. 44 people are in hospital, including 15 people in intensive care. 14 people have died. 118 cases have an unknown source of infection, an increase of 2 since yesterday. 986 people have recovered.  
  • Of the total 1265 cases, there have been 1012 in metropolitan Melbourne and 234 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation.
  • The total number of cases in Australia is currently 6227. That is expected to increase significantly in coming weeks unless people stay at home.
  • There have been 159 confirmed cases in healthcare workers, across at least 7 hospitals and 1 radiology clinic.
  • The Victorian Government is working with the Commonwealth to ensure strict protocols are in place to keep passengers and staff safe on repatriation flights, and to protect the Victorian community once they disembark.
  • More than 1200 Australians are expected to land at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport over the course of the weekend, after the Federal Government gave the green light for the flights to proceed.
  • The flights will carry Australian and New Zealander passengers and depart from Peru, Delhi and Uruguay. All passengers will be subject to strict quarantine protocols that require them to be medically screened before being transported to hotels for their 14 days isolation.
  • The department is working with other agencies to prepare for the first group of people who underwent mandatory quarantine in hotels to finish their quarantine tomorrow.
  • Up-to-date epidemiological data is available on our website.

Current advice to clinicians

  • Clinicians are urged to test everyone who meets the case definition; especially close contacts and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There should be no exceptions.
  • Please reinforce the advice to Victorians to stay home and stay safe. 
  • Look for signs of mental distress in your patients and encourage them to take a look at our coronavirus mental health webpage
  • Be aware of the increased risk for family violence during this difficult time. Familarise yourself with the services available for your patients

Key messages 

  • The rules are clear - and they don’t change over Easter: if you can stay at home, you must stay at home. 
    No Easter holiday is worth a life.  
  • 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 

Current directions arising from the declared state of emergency

The current directions remain in place and include: staying at home, restrictions on particular activities, detention, restrictions on airports and cruise ships, aged care, hospitals and isolation for people diagnosed with COVID-19. 

More information viewed at the department’s website. The site also contains a page of frequently asked questions providing further guidance on the directions.

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

Smartraveller website

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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