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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).

17/2/2021

What's new?

  • Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus.
  • The total number of COVID-19 cases now linked to the Holiday Inn remains at 19.
  • The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases reported in Victoria is now 20,475.
  • There were no new deaths and the state’s death toll stands at 820.
  • The number of active cases in Victoria is 25. This includes 17 locally acquired cases isolating in the community and 8 cases in hotel quarantine.
  • A total of 4,782,488 test results have been received. This is an increase of 39,258 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.

Update: end of circuit-breaker action 

  • Victoria’s circuit-breaker actions are in effect until 11:59pm Wednesday 17 February. For more information, please visit the Coronavirus website.
  • From 11:59pm on Wednesday 17 February, Victoria goes back to COVIDSafe Summer, with some additional rules.
  • There are no restrictions on reasons to leave home, but stay COVIDSafe safe.
  • Face masks are required everywhere indoors except in your own home. Face masks are also required outside if you cannot physically distance from others.
  • Restaurants and retail can reopen – density limits are outlined in the COVIDSafe Summer table of restrictions.
  • Offices – both public and private sectors – can return to 50 per cent of workers on-site.
  • Community facilities, entertainment venues and all other public places can reopen with some additional limits on crowd sizes: 
    • seated indoor entertainment venues are capped at 50 per cent capacity, up to a maximum of 300 people
    • indoor non-seated venues, such as galleries, are capped at 50 per cent capacity up to a maximum of 300 people
    • cinemas are capped at 50 per cent of seated capacity up to a maximum of 300 people.
    • No more than five visitors are allowed to your home each day, and outdoor public gatherings with friends and family are limited to 20 people.
  • Visits to hospitals and residential aged care facilities are limited to one household each day, with some exceptions.
  • The four reasons to leave home and five-kilometre restriction will no longer apply.
  • Weddings, funerals and religious gatherings can resume with density limits.
  • Schools resume onsite learning.

Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport case 

  • There are no new cases of COVID-19 linked to the Holiday Inn.
  • In relation to the Holiday Inn cases, we have identified 59 primary close contacts linked to households and social groups and 1312 primary close contacts linked to exposure sites.
  • The number of identified close contacts, particularly those linked to exposure sites, will continue to change as exposure sites and cohorts are cleared and others are identified.
  • Public exposure sites are published at Case locations and outbreaks.
  • 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.
  • Visit Where to get tested page to view testing sites nearest you and see real-time waiting information. We thank people for their patience and apologise for any delays.

 

Weak positive under investigation 

  • The Department has been notified of a weak positive test result in a man who presented to hospital from the Twin Parks Aged Care Facility. The man was a positive case from August last year.
  • He tested negative twice before a third test returned a weak positive.
  • This case has not been added to the numbers as it is still under investigation. The result is thought to represent persistent shedding from a previous infection. He has no links to cases at the Holiday Inn.
  • The case is being re-tested today and will be considered by members of the expert review panel.
  • Out of an abundance of caution while awaiting the repeat test, the aged care facility has been kept safe and all staff and residents were tested yesterday evening.

Wastewater detections

  • There have been two COVID-19 fragment detections in metropolitan Melbourne wastewater catchments.
  • One detection is in the Coburg catchment which includes the suburbs of Coburg, Coburg North and Reservoir. The other detection is in the South Melbourne catchment which includes the suburbs of Southbank, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road/Domain and parts of South Yarra and Prahran.
  • People in these areas are asked to remain extra vigilant and come forward for testing if they develop even the mildest symptoms of COVID-19.

Three-day Auckland lockdown

  • On Sunday 14 February, the Australian Chief Medical Officer announced all flights originating in New Zealand will be classified as Red Zone flights for an initial period of 72 hours from 12.01am Monday 15 February.
  • As a result, all people arriving on flights from New Zealand within this three-day period will enter Hotel Quarantine for 14 days.
  • On Monday 15 February, a flight arrived from New Zealand into Melbourne with 152 passengers.  All passengers are being followed up to see if they are still in Victoria and, if so, they will be asked to isolate and get tested.

Testing sites and expanded testing 

  • A new drive-through testing site is operating at at the Grand Prix circuit, 12 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park, which will open from 7-days from 9am to 5pm.
  • With high temperatures forecast over coming days, some testing sites may have to close or alter their hours of operation.
  • We have also advised the public to make sure they have plenty of water, fuel and other necessary items in case they experience a lengthy wait.
  • New testing sites, extended hours and expected wait times are regularly updated at Where to get tested.
  • 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 – no matter how mild - to come and get tested. 

Interstate border restrictions

  • All travel into Victoria from other states and territories requires a travel permit.  You can apply for a permit via the Service Victoria website.
  • Travellers from the Greater Melbourne area are prohibited from entering South Australia on or after 12.01am 11 February 2021. Essential travellers or travellers with an exemption (such as returning SA residents, genuine relocations, and those fleeing family violence) will be required to self-quarantine at a suitable place for 14 days upon arrival and submit to COVID-19 testing on day 1, 5 and 12.
  • Queensland closed its borders to Greater Melbourne for a two-week period from 11:59pm on 12 February 2021.
  • Travellers from Victoria entering the Northern Territory from Greater Melbourne (including Melbourne Airport) are required to complete 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine.
  • Travellers from Victoria entering Western Australia must apply for a G2G Pass and self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival and obtain a COVID-19 test with 48 hours of arrival.

Western Australia zone change

  • From 9:00 pm on 15 February, Perth, Peel and the south-west region of Western Australia became a green zone under Victoria’s ‘traffic light’ travel permit system. This means that all of WA is currently a green zone.
  • People in green zones can apply for a permit to enter Victoria if they have no COVID-19 symptoms and have had no close contact with a COVID-19 case.
  • For more on travel permits visit Victorian Travel Permit System.

Current advice to clinicians

Coronavirus (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.

Clinical information

Online resources

Mental health resources

  • 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.

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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