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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).

2/1/2021

What's new?

  • Victoria has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) since yesterday, this includes ten locally acquired and two in hotel quarantine. Two of these cases were reported in NSW’s numbers yesterday.
  • All 18 of the locally acquired cases in the community have been identified as primary close contacts to the existing cases in the Mentone and Mitcham clusters. This means that all active cases in the community have been linked to existing cases.
  • Genomic testing has also confirmed all of these existing cases in Victoria are linked to the NSW Northern Beaches outbreak.
  • The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reported in Victoria is now 20,388 including those in hotel quarantine.
  • There were no new deaths and the state’s death toll stands at 820.
  • There are 29 active cases in Victoria, this includes 18 local cases and 11 in hotel quarantine, 19,538 people have recovered.
  • A total of 3,907,338 test results have been received. This is an increase of 18,337 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.

New Victoria cases

  • Positive cases identified are linked to Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant in Black Rock on Monday 21 December 2020.  
  • Extensive contact tracing is underway and as a result there are close contacts being supported to isolate immediately. 
  • Anyone who went to Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant on Monday 21 December 2020 should get tested and quarantine immediately. 
  • DHHS will continue to update exposure sites on the list of Case locations and outbreaks.
  • Additional testing sites are being set up in the affected areas. Find testing site details and opening hours.

Coronavirus fragments detected in Lakes Entrance wastewater 

  • Viral fragments have been detected in a sample of wastewater taken from the inlet to the Lakes Entrance wastewater treatment plant on Tuesday 29 December. 
  • The Department of Health and Human Services is urging anyone in the Lakes Entrance area with any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested and stay home until they receive their result. 
  • Bairnsdale Regional Health Services drive-through testing site is open from 9am to 5pm on New Year’s Day and over the weekend. 

NSW Border

  • From 11:59pm on Friday 1 January 2021, Victoria closed its borders to New South Wales (NSW).
  • You can only apply for a permit to enter Victoria if you:
    • Are transiting through NSW to Victoria from another state or territory.
    • Are a commercial freight worker travelling to Victoria for work.
  • There is an exemption process in place for those in NSW who have special needs to come back into Victoria.
  • All exemptions are reviewed by the Chief Health Officer, or their delegate, and take up to 48 hours to process.
  • You can apply for an exemption by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

Visitors from, or those returning from New South Wales

  • Victorians are strongly advised not to travel to NSW.
  • NSW Health are continually updating their high-risk exposure sites and we will advise the Victorian community accordingly.
  • If you think you or a may have been exposed or have been to these locations, then please contact the Department on 1800 675 398. We will ensure that anyone who has been exposed to this outbreak - regardless of whether you normally live in Victoria, NSW or elsewhere - is supported to safely and appropriately self-isolate and get tested.
  • Victoria continues to work closely with NSW Health in response to an outbreak in NSW to ensure any people who have visited high-risk locations in the state immediately get tested and self-isolate.

Restrictions from 5:00pm Thursday 31 December  

  • From 5pm on Thursday 31 December 2020, the limit of people gathering in private homes was reduced from 30 to 15. 
  • From 5pm on Thursday 31 December 2020 masks will be mandatory indoors. There are exceptions, including when you are eating and drinking or if you have a health condition. 

Testing sites over New Year period

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing remains one of the best ways we can keep people safe and stay open, so we're asking anyone with symptoms to come and get tested - regardless of the time of year.  
  • In excess of 60 testing sites will remain open throughout the summer break.
  • Testing sites will also be operating in the popular summer destinations at Torquay, Lorne, and the Mornington Peninsula.  
  • Testing site details, including opening hours, are available on the Where to get tested page

Face masks

  • Face masks are now mandatory in all indoor settings, including workplaces. There are exceptions, including when you are eating and drinking or if you have a health condition. 
  • Under COVIDSafe Summer restrictions, there is a requirement to carry a mask at all times.
  • Fitted face masks are now mandatory when in airport terminals and is strongly recommended to wear a mask on your flight.

Wastewater monitoring continues in more than 60 locations

  • Low levels of viral fragments have been detected in samples taken this week at wastewater treatment plants in Castlemaine and Corio, and in sub-catchments of the Colac sewage system. 
  • It is likely people who have recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19) and are no longer infectious are continuing to shed the virus. We have seen similar patterns in multiple locations across the state and we expect this to continue. It is not a cause for concern. 
  • As always, it remains vitally important that any Victorians with any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, no matter how mild, stay home and get tested.  

Current advice to clinicians

  • Clinicians should be asking patients if they are from or if they have been in New South Wales and if so, to check the areas of risk defined by the NSW 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

  • High risk sites have been reported in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney. People who have attended some sites are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Any person who has been in Sydney who has symptoms, however mild, should be tested and isolate until a result is available. Exposure sites are listed on the NSW Health website.
  • 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.
  • COVIDSafe principles apply across Victoria:
    • You must carry a face mask with you when you leave home. You must wear your face mask on public transport, while in taxis or ride share vehicles, or when going to large retail venues, including shopping centres, supermarkets and department stores.
    • Wearing a face mask is strongly recommended in all other situations when you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people. Don't go to work if you feel unwell.
    • Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres.
    • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
    • Wash hands with soap or use hand sanitiser regularly.
  • 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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