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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).

10/12/2020

What's new?

  • As of 10 December 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 41st consecutive day with no new cases. 
  • Today’s 14-day average case number for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria is zero.  
  • There were no new deaths and the state’s death toll stands at 820.  
  • 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 are no active cases in Victoria. 19,525 people have recovered.  
  • A total of 3,663,404 test results have been received. This is an increase of 11,625 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.
  • COVIDSafe Summer restrictions came into effect at 11:59 pm on Sunday 6 December 2020. For more information visit the COVIDSafe Summer restrictions summary.
  • On 4 December, the Victorian Government announced it will introduce a contribution fee for mandatory quarantine. Visit mandatory quarantine contribution fee for more information.
  • Based on current coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure dates in South Australia, the Chief Health Officer has recommended the removal of Victoria’s border permit scheme from 12 December 2020.

Two international travellers in mandatory quarantine

  • Two international travellers in mandatory quarantine in Victoria returned a negative result for their second COVID-19 test, on Tuesday (November 8, 2020). An initial test was also negative. The travellers arrived in Sydney on Saturday and boarded a domestic flight to Melbourne without quarantining in NSW. 
  • All identified close contacts of the two travellers are able to end their current period of quarantine if they remain well.   
  • The Department has contacted the 179 people who were identified as close contacts from Virgin Airways flight VA838 from Sydney to Melbourne, which departed Sydney at noon on Saturday and arrived in Melbourne at around 1.45pm. This includes passengers, flight crew and Melbourne Airport staff identified as close contacts.   
  • The two international travellers are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 and have had no known contact with a positive case. They will remain in mandatory quarantine for 14 days and will be tested again on day 11 of their quarantine. 
  • Melbourne Airport is not a current risk to the public – you may continue to visit the airport, in line with current restrictions. 

Face masks

  • Under COVIDSafe Summer restrictions, there is a requirement to carry a mask at all times.  
  • From 11:59pm 6 December, masks are required in a limited number of places: on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, in some retail settings including indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.  
  • While masks are no longer mandated in most circumstances, they continue to be recommended indoors or outdoors when distancing can’t be maintained.

COVIDSafe Summer restrictions

  • From 11:59pm on 6 December, COVIDSafe Summer restrictions came into effect across Victoria. The following restrictions now apply:
    • You can have up to 30 visitors to your home per day. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Front and backyards are considered part of the home.
    • Up to 100 people can meet outdoors in a public place. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from.
    • Record keeping continues to be an important tool for helping Victoria to stay safe and stay open. Businesses that are required to record the details of visitors should use electronic record keeping or QR codes. The Victorian Government has a free QR code service.
    • Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs can open for seated and unseated service. They must use electronic record keeping and apply the two square metre rule to ensure that customers have enough room to keep 1.5 metres between themselves and others. There are no other limits on the number of customers. Venues can have up to 25 people before the two square metre rule needs to be applied.
    • Weddings, funerals and religious gatherings can occur with no limits on the number of guests or attendees. To ensure people can keep 1.5 metres distance the venue must apply the two square metre rule. If a service is conducted in a private home, the private gathering limit applies (30 visitors).
    • Dance floors can reopen in bars and pubs as well as at weddings. The four-square metre rule must be applied to limit the number of people on the dance floor and there can only be up to 50 people on the dancefloor at one time, if space allows.
    • There are also changes to the number of people allowed at community facilities such as libraries, sporting facilities (such as gyms), and entertainment facilities (such as cinemas).
  • From Monday 11 January 2021, 50 per cent of private business office-based workers can return to work. For workplaces with fewer than 40 staff, up to 20 staff onsite, subject to public health advice.
  • From Monday 11 January 2021, up to 25 per cent of the Victorian public service will be able to return to the office moving up to 50 per cent on 8 February 2021, subject to public health advice.

Temporary border controls with South Australia

  • The Victorian Government is continuing to monitor the situation in South Australia and will continue to be guided by health advice.
  • A permit is required to enter Victoria from South Australia unless an exemption applies. For more information visit the Victorian Border Crossing Permit page. Based on current COVID exposure dates in South Australia, this requirement will end at 11.59pm on Saturday 12 December.
  • 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 driver 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.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) fragments found in Daylesford, Hepburn, Hepburn springs

  • Traces of viral fragments of coronavirus (COVID-19) were detected in a wastewater sample from the Daylesford, Hepburn and Hepburn Springs area on Monday 30 November. The department is investigating further, and additional samples are being taken for testing.  
  • Further wastewater samples taken from 30 sites across Victoria (3 December 2020), including Daylesford, have all returned negative results. 
  • As always, anyone with symptoms in the Daylesford, Hepburn and Hepburn Springs area – or anyone with symptoms who visited the region on the weekend – should get tested.  
  • Testing is available at Daylesford Health from 9:45am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 

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.
  • 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 continues 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 symptoms of coronavirus (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 changes 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 Emergency has been extended until 3 January 2021 to allow the Chief Health Officer’s directions to remain in force.

Key messages for the community

  • 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 (indoors)
    • 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 (PDF) 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

Online resources

Consumer information

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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