26/09/2020
What's new?
- As of 26 September 2020, 12 new cases have been diagnosed since yesterday, with the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria now at 20,129.
- The overall total has increased by 11 due to one case being reclassified.
- Today’s 14 day average case number for metropolitan Melbourne is 23.6 and regional Victoria is 0.8.
- Within Victoria, five of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and seven are under investigation.
- To date, 782 people have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria, an increase of one since yesterday.
- There are 4,270 cases that may indicate community transmission, an increase of two since yesterday.
- There are 444 cases currently active in Victoria. 18,842 people have recovered.
- 53 people are in hospital. This includes nine patients in intensive care.
- A total of 2,651,309 test results have been received. This is an increase of 16,027 since yesterday.
- You can find further details in today’s coronavirus (COVID-19) media release.
- The DHHS website has full details in the interactive daily report.
- Elective surgery resumed across Victoria’s regional public and private hospitals on Thursday 17 September 2020 and will resume in metropolitan Melbourne from the end of September.
- Elective surgery is resuming in stages, in line with the Victorian Government’s roadmap for reopening.
- The plan will see hospitals in regional Victoria increase to 75 per cent of usual elective surgery activity from Thursday, 17 September and 85 per cent from 28 September.
- Hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne will begin to ramp-up to 75 per cent of usual activity from the 28 September, when they enter the Second Step of the roadmap, and 85 per cent of usual activity when they move to the Third Step.
- All Victorian hospitals will move to 100 per cent of their usual activity when the state moves from the Last Step to COVID Normal, planned for 23 November.
Current advice to clinicians
- DHHS has been collecting stocktake and utilisation data on key personal protective equipment (PPE) and swabs for public health services to support early identification of potential stock shortages.
- The state supply chain has moved to a needs-based allocation method for N95 respirators. Allocations will include a mix of brands and model including BYD, Detmold, and 3M. No BSN respirators have been allocated this week due to low stock levels.
- Notifications to the department of a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be done online. You can submit an online form to our public health team, rather than calling us, saving you time and resolving your case load more efficiently.
- Notifications to the department of a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) can be done online. You can submit an online form to our public health team, rather than calling us, saving you time and resolving your case load more efficiently.
- Personal protective equipment and advice from the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Taskforce can be found in the Guide to the conventional use of PPE (Word) on our website.
- How to manage clinical waste from coronavirus (COVID-19) is now online.
- Protecting our healthcare workers (PDF) sets out the very latest in our understanding of coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it can spread within healthcare settings – both hospitals and aged care facilities. More information can be found online.
COVID-19 Testing Criteria
- 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, or loss or change in sense of smell or taste)
Note: testing is also recommended for people with new onset of other clinical symptoms consistent with coronavirus (COVID-19)** AND who are from the following cohorts: close contacts of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19); those who have returned from overseas in the past 14 days; or those who are healthcare or aged care workers. Testing is recommended for those cohorts with onset of other clinical symptoms**. Asymptomatic testing is not recommended at this stage except for targeted programs
*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.
Victoria's restriction levels
- Victoria’s roadmap for reopening Victoria’s roadmap for reopening is a long-term plan to provide safe, steady and sustainable steps for our path out of restrictions into COVID Normal. The easing of restrictions will be subject to public health advice and meeting specific 14-day average case numbers. There are separate roadmaps for metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
- Victoria’s State of Emergency and State of Disaster declarations have been extended from Sunday 13 September until 11.59pm on Sunday 11 October 2020.
Key messages for the community
- Testing is a critical help to driving numbers down so it’s extremely important that if people have symptoms, however mild, they get tested. Go home straight after your test and isolate while you wait for the results. Go to the testing map for locations.
- Six COVIDSafe principles apply across Victoria.
- Wear a face mask or covering when you leave home.
- Don't go to work if you feel unwell.
- Maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres.
- Cough and sneeze into tissue or your elbow.
- Perform good hand hygiene.
- Outdoor activities carry less risk than indoor activities.
- High risk locations are listed on the DHHS website. If you have visited any of the locations listed during the dates indicated you should watch for coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms. If symptoms occur immediately get tested and stay at home while you wait for results
- Keep your home as safe and clean as possible against the virus. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Home Safety Plan is available for download at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/covid-19-home-safety-plan with hardcopy and translated versions available shortly.
- Many Victorians are feeling fatigued, isolated or lonely. If you are in need of support for your mental health there are mental health resources you can access on our website.
- Victorians can leave their home if they are not safe and seek help and support at an Orange Door or other family violence support service. If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing family violence, call 000 in an emergency or safe steps 24/7 crisis service on 1800 015 188.
- The Partners in Wellbeing hotline (1300 375 330) is available for referrals from people who identify as LGBTIQ, multicultural, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, veterans and people experiencing homelessness.
Clinical information
Latest coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Victorian health services and general practice.
Latest information about providing immunisation services during Coronavirus Pandemic.
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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