02/08/2020
What's new?
- As of 2 August 2020, the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 11,557 with 671 new cases diagnosed since yesterday.
- The overall total has increased by 626 with 45 cases being reclassified.
- Of the new cases, 73 are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 598 are under investigation.
- There are 1,962 cases that may indicate community transmission, an increase of 148 since yesterday’s report.
- 385 people are in hospital, including 38 patients in intensive care.
- Sadly, there have been seven new deaths reported since yesterday. To date, 123 people have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria.
- There are 6,322 cases currently active in Victoria. 4,915 people have recovered.
- More than 1,633,900 test results have been processed by the department since 1 January 2020.
- Further details can be found in today’s coronavirus (COVID-19) media release.
- Up-to-date epidemiological data is available on our website.
- The Department of Health and Human Services will be distributing 2.1 million masks to eligible Victorians. General practices can place orders for these masks. More information is available on the reusable face masks page.
State of Disaster
- Victoria will enter a State of Disaster from 6pm on 2 August until Sunday 13 September. This will give police additional powers to make sure people are complying with public health directions.
- Melbourne will move to stage 4 restrictions from 6pm on 2 August 2020.
- A curfew will be implemented across Melbourne from 8pm to 5am. The only reason to leave home during these times will be work, medical care and caregiving.
- New duration, distance and gathering limits will apply to shopping and exercise. Exercise will be limited to one hour a day within a five-kilometre radius of your home. Group size will be limited to two, regardless of if you are in the same household or not.
- Shopping for essentials will be limited to one person per household per day. A five-kilometre limit will apply.
- Regional Victoria will move to stage 3 restrictions from 11.59pm Wednesday 5 August 2020. There will only be four reasons to leave home; for food and supplies, medical care and caregiving, exercise and work or study, if you can’t work or study from home.
- Mitchell Shire will remain at stage 3 restrictions.
- All Victorian students will move to remote learning from Wednesday 5 August.
- From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August 2020 all Victorian’s must wear a face covering when leaving home.
Current advice to clinicians
- Practitioners should 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, anosmia or loss of smell or loss of taste)
Note: In addition, testing is recommended for people with new onset of other clinical symptoms consistent with coronavirus (COVID-19)** AND who are close contacts of a confirmed case of coronavirus (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)G
**headache, myalgia, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
- If referring your patients for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, a list of testing locations can be found on the getting tested for coronavirus page.
- Due to an increased risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) health care workers in Victoria (including in regional and rural areas) must wear a level 1 or type 1 disposable surgical mask in public-facing areas in healthcare settings, particularly where adequate physical distancing is not possible. For more guidance on this update see the health services and professionals page. This requirement includes pharmacists, nurses, doctors and other Victorian health care workers.
- Any coronavirus (COVID-19) test reported by a laboratory as having detected SARS-CoV-2 on PCR will be treated as positive for the purposes of public health actions, regardless of repeat testing of the sample. It is not appropriate to advise a patient that a test is a false positive.
- If you’re the doctor of a confirmed case, check in regularly on your patient – if your patient’s clinical condition deteriorates, consider tertiary referral as your next step.
- Confirmed cases will be contacted by the public health team and if a person cannot be contacted after two calls within a two-hour window, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will accompany an authorised officer to visit the person’s address.
Key messages for the community
- Stay home and get tested if you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) no matter how mild: including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of sense of smell or taste. Go home straight after your test and self-isolate while you wait for the results. You must not go to a workplace until you get your results. Go to the DHHS testing map for locations.
- From 11.59 on Sunday 2 August all Victorians will be required to wear a face covering when leaving their home, unless a lawful exception applies.
- This is a difficult and uncertain time for many Victorians, and support is vital and available. For more information about managing stress and support options, call the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Services on 1800 512 348
- A one-off $300 payment to support Victorian workers, including parents and guardians, who are required to self-isolate while they wait for the results is available.
- A one-off $1,500 Worker Support Payment continues to be available to support Victorian workers who test positive or a close contact tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and need to self-isolate but are unable to work during their isolation, have no income during this period, and are not entitled to any paid sick leave, special pandemic leave or other income support.
- For more information about the worker support payment, see Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation and Worker Support Payments.
- Pause on public and private elective surgeries: In metropolitan Melbourne surgeries that have already been scheduled may proceed, while only new Category 1 and the most urgent Category 2 surgeries can be booked. IVF treatments such as egg retrievals will be able to continue given the time critical nature of these procedures and minimal impact on hospital capacity. This is due to the increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and to ensure our hospitals have the beds, equipment and staff available if aged care residents need to be transferred.
More information
Clinical information
Latest coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Victorian health services and general practice
Consumer information
Financial support – for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Translated resources in over 50 languages
Victoria's current restrictions
Latest coronavirus information from the World Health Organization
Latest travel advice from Smartraveller
Contacts
Medical practitioners needing clinical information or to notify confirmed cases can contact the Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Diseases Section on 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
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