03/11/2020
What's new?
- As of 3 November 2020, no new cases have been diagnosed since yesterday with the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria at 20,345.
- Today’s 14-day average case number for metropolitan Melbourne is 1.9 and regional Victoria is zero.
- There have been zero new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. To date, 819 people have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria.
- The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days is two for metropolitan Melbourne and zero for regional Victoria. 4,277 cases may indicate community transmission (an increase of one since yesterday’s report).
- There are 38 cases currently active in Victoria. 19,488 people have recovered.
- Two people are in hospital. There are no cases in intensive care.
- A total of 3,216,016 test results have been received. This is an increase of 12,841 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.
- From 11:59pm on Tuesday 27 October, restrictions eased further in metropolitan Melbourne. Visit the Summary of changes to restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria page and stay up to date via the DHHS website.
Current advice to clinicians
- Up-to-date locations of respiratory assessment clinics and testing sites are available on the department’s coronavirus website. A list of current locations with an interactive map is available on the where to get tested website page.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is continuing to ask commercial passenger vehicle drivers and food delivery drivers to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19). If commercial passenger vehicle drivers and food delivery drivers do not have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, they will not have to stay home to wait for their test results. Commercial passenger vehicle drivers and food delivery drivers will need to tell staff at the testing centre/site that they work in the industry.
- Prolonged use of PPE can cause facial or skin injuries, and advice on how to prevent and manage these effects is now online.
- 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.
- Find out the latest information about visiting care facilities and hospitals 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.
- A new Infection Prevention and Control resource hub is now online, and includes a new factsheet on protective eyewear and the Guide to the conventional use of PPE (Word)
- In addition, there is updated PPE information for health care workers who are directly involved in treating patients. Updated information available online on the PPE coronavirus page.
Testing advice for clinicians in an outbreak setting
-
If a symptomatic patient that presents for testing, confirms exposure to a known COVID-19 case within the past 14 days, and the outbreak definition is met, the test sample is to be treated as an ‘outbreak sample’.
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 is a long-term plan to provide safe, steady and sustainable steps for our path out of restrictions into a state of COVID Normal. The easing of restrictions will be subject to conditions such as public health advice and meeting specific 14-day average case numbers. There are separate roadmaps for metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
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.
- Public exposure sites 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
- 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 a tissue or your elbow.
- Perform good hand hygiene.
- Outdoor activities carry less risk than indoor activities.
- The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Home Safety Plan is available for download.
- 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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