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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).

7/2/2021

What's new?

  • Victoria has recorded zero new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) since yesterday.
  • This is the third consecutive day that Victoria has recorded no new locally acquired cases of coronavirus.
  • The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reported in Victoria is now 20,455.
  • There were no new deaths and the state’s death toll stands at 820.
  • The number of active cases in Victoria is 21.
  • A total of 4,558,741 test results have been received. This is an increase of 14,862 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.

Grand Hyatt

  • The Department is continuing to follow up close contacts of a Hotel Quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel who has tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19) on 3 February.
  • Yesterday we reported that 17 social and household primary close contacts of the worker have tested negative to COVID-19. Through our detailed investigations of the original case, we have identified a further four people who are now considered social and household primary close contacts, bringing the total to 21.
  • Through interviews we have now established there are 645 workplace contacts who worked with the positive case at the Grand Hyatt during the period of possible transmission. This is a reduction of 122 since yesterday.
  • As of this morning, 485 primary close contacts have now been identified in connection with these public exposure sites. This number is likely to increase over coming days as investigations continue and people are identified as close contacts from QR data or other sources. 
  • Anyone who has visited the exposure sites during these dates and times must immediately isolate, get tested, and remain isolated for 14 days from the time they were at the site - not just until they receive a negative result.
  • A total of 1151 primary close contacts are now linked to this case and 72 per cent have returned negative test results.
  • These negative results are very encouraging but as the hotel worker was infected with the highly contagious B.1.1.7 UK strain of COVID-19, it is vitally important that we continue to monitor close contacts in isolation and continue testing before we can be re-assured that Victoria does not have further cases.
  • There are still 14 identified public exposure sites that were visited by the Hotel Quarantine worker.
  • All current exposure sites can be seen at Case locations and outbreaks page. 
  • This website is rapidly updated as any new sites are identified.

Face masks  

  • From 11:59pm on 3 February 2021 new statewide restrictions are in effect.  
  • Face masks are mandatory in indoor spaces, including workplaces. If you have visitors in your home, it is strongly recommended that face masks are worn during the visit. Face masks must be worn in indoor spaces apart from when eating or drinking.  If you are planning to leave your home – take a face mask. 
  • In addition to indoor public spaces, face masks continue to be mandatory in the following locations: 
    • on public transport 
    • when riding in a ride share or taxi 
    • on domestic flights to and from Victoria 
    • at airports 
  • You must always carry a face mask with you when you leave home unless you have a lawful reason not to. 
  • It is strongly recommended you wear one whenever you cannot keep 1.5 metres distance from others. 
  • There are a number of lawful reasons to not wear a face mask. 

Update: Western Australia zone change

  • Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has declared the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region and the South West region of Western Australia will move from a red zone to an orange zone under Victoria’s ‘traffic light’ travel permit system at 9pm Victorian time today, Friday 5 February.
  • People in orange zones can apply for a permit to enter Victoria provided they have not been in close contact with a coronavirus (COVID-19) case and do not have any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.
  • On arrival in Victoria, orange zone permit holders must isolate at their home or accommodation, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and continue isolating until they have received a negative result.
  • Victoria’s travel permit system provides the Department of Health the contact details of arrivals from orange and green zone areas, allowing the Department to advise them of any updated directions should the public health situation change in any state.
  • To apply for a travel permit to enter Victoria, visit the Service Victoria website.

New South Wales zone changes

  • Following continued low community transmission and exposure risk, from 6:00pm on 29 January 2021 the last red zone in New South Wales, the Local Government Area (LGA) of Cumberland, has transitioned to an orange zone.
  • All remaining orange zones have transitioned to green. Anyone with a valid permit will be able to enter Victoria from New South Wales.
  • Travel from an orange zone requires people to self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in quarantine until they receive a negative result. Travel from a green zone requires people to watch and get tested if they have any symptoms at all.
  • People can apply for an orange zone permit via the Service Victoria website.
  • 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 or via the online form.

Testing sites

  • 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. 
  • Testing sites are also operating in the popular summer destinations at Torquay, Lorne, and the Mornington Peninsula.
  • Testing site details, including new and pop-up testing sites and opening hours, are available at Where to get tested.

Wastewater monitoring

  • We have boosted our wastewater surveillance. Daily testing has been undertaken at 25 surveillance sites in metropolitan Melbourne since Friday. All this sampling has produced no new detections.
  • Across the rest of the State, a small number of one-off detections in regional areas has also resulted in more daily testing with no further detections.
  • Following the weak detection of viral fragments from wastewater collected from Mt Beauty that was announced yesterday, a new site has been established to facilitate testing in the local area.
  • The Mt Beauty Pop Up COVID-19 Testing Clinic is open this weekend and will operate from a clinic in Tennis Court Avenue from 9am-4pm on both days. It is a drive-through site and no appointment is required.
  • Anyone who lives in or has visited the Mt Beauty, Tawonga and Tawonga South area from 26 January to 1 February is urged to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) if they have any symptoms, however mild.
  • Weak detections of the virus in wastewater may be due to people who have recovered from COVID-19, but continue to shed the virus or from an active infectious case.
  • A weak detection of viral fragments from wastewater in Lakes Entrance on 28 January has been confirmed following further analysis.
  • Anyone who lives in or has visited Lakes Entrance from 26 to 28 January is urged to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) if they have any symptoms, however mild.
  • Viral fragments of COVID-19 were detected in wastewater samples taken on 27 January in Castlemaine, Cowes, Pakenham and Warrnambool.
  • Anyone who lives in or has visited these areas from 25 to 27 January is urged to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) if they have any symptoms, however mild.
  • Viral fragments have been detected in wastewater samples recently taken from Gisborne, Hamilton and Leongatha.
  • Anyone who lives in or has visited Gisborne from 24 to 26 January 2021, Hamilton from 25 to 27 January 2021 or Leongatha from 17 to 19 January 2021, is urged to get tested if they have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild.
  • Victoria’s wastewater surveillance program has now expanded to 95 sites which are regularly tested for early-warning of coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • 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, Western Australia or New Zealand and if so, to check the areas of risk defined by the NSW, WA and NZ governments 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.

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 Friday 26 February 2021 to allow the Chief Health Officer’s directions to remain in force.
  • From 11:59pm on 3 February 2021 new statewide restrictions are in effect. Face masks are mandatory in public indoor spaces. The limit on the number of people gathering in a household is reduced from 30 to 15, meaning the household members plus 15 visitors (excluding children under 12 months of age).

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.
  • COVIDSafe principles apply across Victoria:
    • Face masks are mandatory in public indoor spaces, except when eating or drinking. If you have visitors in your home, it is strongly recommended that masks are worn during the visit. You must carry a mask when you leave your home.
    • 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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