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.

10/05/2020

What's new?

Developments in the outbreak

  • As of 10 May 2020, the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1,487, an increase of 10 since yesterday.
  • The new confirmed cases include 1 new case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at a Melbourne meat processing facility, taking the total number of cases in this cluster to 76.
  • 157 cases have an unknown source of infection, a decrease of 1 since yesterday.
  • 7 people are in hospital, including 5 people in intensive care. 18 people have died.
  • There are currently 118 active cases in Victoria, and 1,346 people have recovered
  • To date, over 226,889 tests have been performed in Victoria, with many more samples still being processed as part of the state’s testing blitz.
  • Of the total 1,487 cases, there have been 1,224 in metropolitan Melbourne and 224 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation.
  • There have been 176 confirmed cases in healthcare workers, an increase of 3 since yesterday’s report.
  • Up-to-date epidemiological data is available on our website.

Update on Ventilator Supply

  • Over 9,000 ventilators have been ordered and will become available over the coming months.
  • By the end of May, we will have 1400 ventilators available to be in service across Victoria. This includes 300 new ventilators in addition to our current supply.
  • An additional 3,000 ventilators will arrive in June, taking our total by the end of June to over 4,000 ventilators available to be in service across Victoria.

Current advice to clinicians

  • A major COVID-19 testing blitz is currently taking place across Victoria, to better understand how the virus is spreading in the community. Every effort will be made to actively find cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • Due to the high volume of tests being processed, results may take longer than usual, up to 5 days
  • Widespread testing is strongly encouraged at the present time. Practitioners are encouraged to test any patients who meet the clinical criteria below:

    Fever OR chills in the absence of an alternative diagnosis that explains the clinical presentation*
    OR
    Acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or anosmia)

    Note: In addition, testing is recommended for people with new onset of other clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19** AND who are close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19; who have returned from overseas in the past 14 days; or who are healthcare or aged care workers.

    *Clinical discretion applies including consideration of the potential for co-infection (e.g. concurrent infection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza)
    **headache, myalgia, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
  • If referring your patients for COVID-19 testing, a list of testing locations can be found on the getting tested for coronavirus page.

Key messages for the community

  • Stage 3 restrictions are still in place.
  • Staying apart keeps protecting the health system and saves lives.
  • There are only four reasons to leave your home: food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise, and work or education - if necessary.
  • Protect yourself from coronavirus (COVID-19) by washing your hands regularly with soap and water; and try not to touch your face, including your eyes, nose or mouth.

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

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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