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Coronavirus (COVID-19) daily update

This Chief Health Officer update is intended to provide clinicians and the Victorian public with information about the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (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 coronavirus (COVID-19).

22/11/2020

What's new?

  • As of 22 November 2020, no new cases have been diagnosed since yesterday with the total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria at 20,345. This is Victoria’s twenty-third consecutive day with no new cases.
  • Today’s 14-day average case number for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria is zero.
  • There have been no new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. To date, 819 people have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Victoria (no change since yesterday’s report).
  • The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days is zero for metropolitan Melbourne and zero for regional Victoria. 3,762 cases may indicate community transmission (no change since yesterday’s report).
  • There is currently one active case in Victoria. 19,525 people have recovered.
  • There is one individual currently active case in Victoria, hospitalised in metropolitan Melbourne but not in intensive care.
  • A total of 3,497,612 test results have been received. This is an increase of 10,530 since yesterday.
  • There are no active coronavirus cases remaining among healthcare workers.
  • 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 11:59 Sunday 22 November, Last Step restrictions wills apply throughout Victoria. Visit the summary of changes to restrictions for Victoria.

Face Masks

  • Face masks will continue to be mandatory indoors, unless an exemption applies.
  • Face masks will not be required outdoors except where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as farmers’ markets and other outdoor retail. There is a requirement to carry a mask at all times.

Temporary border controls with South Australia

  • The Victorian Government will continue to monitor the situation in South Australia and will continue to be guided by the health advice.
  • A permit is now required to enter Victoria from South Australia unless an exemption applies. For more information visit the Victorian Border Crossing Permit page.
  • People who live in the previously established 70km cross-border bubble between Victoria and South Australia will not require a new permit, but they will be required to use existing permits from the South Australian Government, or their drivers licence to cross the border.
  • Those receiving or providing emergency medical care, providing or receiving emergency services or residing on a property that extends across both South Australia and Victoria will be exempt from the requirement for a permit.

Wyndham and Hume testing drive

  • Testing continues to be offered in response to a positive wastewater sample in Altona late on Friday.  The location of local testing sites is on the DHHS website and all people with even the mildest symptoms are encouraged to get tested.

Benalla and Portland testing drives

  • In response to the detection of coronavirus (COVID-19) fragments in wastewater testing site have been established in Benalla and Portland. We are urging residents of Benalla and Portland and anyone who has visited those areas between 15 and 17 November to get tested and to isolate until they get their test result.

Current advice to clinicians

  • Clinicians should be asking patients if they have been in South Australia and if so, to check the areas of risk defined by the South Australian government and recommended actions.
  • Statement on Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) diagnosis in symptomatic persons (Word).
  • 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.
  • The department 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.

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.
  • If a symptomatic patient that presents for testing, confirms exposure to a known coronavirus (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’.

Victoria's restriction levels

  • The State of Disaster is not to be renewed but the State of Emergency will be extended until 6 December to allow the Chief Health Officer’s directions to remain in force.

Key messages for the community

  • Rules still apply, you can still only have two visitors to your home, but they don’t need to be from the same household. Remember these restrictions remain important as many of the recent outbreaks came from home visits.
  • A household will be able to visit people in aged care and hospitals, once a day and limited to two hours.
  • Testing is a critical help to keep 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 when you leave home (remains mandatory)
    • 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 which tells you what you need to know to help you, your family and friends stay safe and well. 
  • 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.
  • If Victorians are not safe at home, they can 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.

Online resources

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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