05/08/2020
What's new?
- As of 5 August 2020, the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 13,035 with 725 new cases diagnosed since yesterday.
- Of the new cases, 164 are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 561 are under investigation.
- There are 2,281 cases that may indicate community transmission, an increase of 122 since yesterday’s report.
- 538 people are in hospital, including 42 patients in intensive care.
- Sadly, there have been 15 new deaths reported since yesterday. To date, 162 people have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria.
- There are 7,227 cases currently active in Victoria. 5,424 people have recovered.
- More than 1,721,900 tests have been processed – an increase of approximately 24,000 since yesterday.
- Further details can be found in today’s coronavirus (COVID-19) media release.
- Up-to-date epidemiological data is available on our website.
- To ensure our hospitals have the beds, equipment and staff they need to continue the fight against coronavirus, the Victorian Government will pause all Category 3 and non-urgent Category 2 elective surgery in regional Victoria. This announcement follows the recent decision to pause all Category 3 and non-urgent Category 2 elective surgery in metropolitan Melbourne.
- From Thursday 6 August, only the children of permitted workers and vulnerable kids will be able to access childcare and kinder. A new Access to Childcare Permit will be will required and will sit alongside the Permitted Worker Scheme announced yesterday.
State of Disaster
- Victoria entered a State of Disaster from 6pm on Sunday 2 August until Sunday 13 September. This will give police additional powers to make sure people are complying with public health directions.
- Melbourne moved to stage 4 restrictions from 6pm on Sunday 2 August 2020.
- A curfew is in place for Melbourne from 8pm to 5am. The only reason to leave home during these times will be work, medical care and caregiving.
- A fine of $4,957 can be issued to a person failing to self-isolate after testing positive to coronavirus (COVID-19) or who does not self-quarantine after being identified as a close contact.
- In line with the raft of changes made under stage 4 restrictions this week, people who have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or are close contacts will no longer be able to leave their home for exercise.
- From 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 August 2020, employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a worker permit to each staff member to whom that applies. Information is available on the Permitted Worker Scheme - COVID-19 page.
- In Melbourne, shopping for essentials will be limited to one person per household per day. A five-kilometre limit will apply.
- Regional Victoria including Mitchell Shire, will move to stage 3 restrictions from 11.59pm on 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.
- All Victorian students will move to remote learning from Wednesday 5 August 2020.
- All Victorians must now wear a face covering when leaving home. More information on face masks and coverings is available on our website.
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)
**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.
- The Department of Health and Human Services will continue distributing masks to eligible Victorians. General practices can place orders for these masks. More information is available on the reusable face masks page.
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.
- Wear a face mask or covering when you leave 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.
- For information on worker support payments, see Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation and Worker Support Payments.
- Check our website for information and advice about current restriction levels in place including where stage 4, stage 3 and stage 2 restricted areas are, as well as the updated directions.
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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