25/03/2020
What’s new?
- As of 00:01hrs 25 March 2020, Victoria has 466 total confirmed cases, including 2 in intensive care and no deaths.
- The shutdown of all non-essential activity across the state commended at midday 23 March.
- The Prime Minister and the Chief Medical Officer announced further restrictions on businesses and places of gatherings which will come into effect from midnight 25 March.
- From midnight 25 March, no further category three surgeries will take place in public hospitals in Victoria.
- Up-to-date epidemiological data is now available on our website.
- Physical (social) distancing measures should be consistently applied, including clinical settings. The rule of 1 person for every 4 square metres must be to ensure a safe physical distance.
Current directions arising from the declared state of emergency
- A direction for hospital visitors was signed on 23 March 2020. This direction prohibits non-essential visits to hospitals.
- A direction for non-essential business closure was signed on 23 March 2020. This direction states a person who owns, controls or operates a non-essential business or undertaking in Victoria must not operate from noon on 23 March 2020.
- This follows directions for aged care and mass gatherings that were signed on 21 March 2020. The Aged Care Directions make provision for restricted access to residential aged care facilities to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population.
Key messages
- Victoria implemented a shutdown of all non-essential activity across the state on 23 March, these restrictions will be expanded from midnight 25 March in line with national recommendations just announced.
- Essential services include health services, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, petrol stations and convenience stores. Freight, logistics and home delivery are also considered essential and will remain open.
- New restrictions on hospital visitors and workers have been introduced to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Visitors can expect to be screened on entrance and will not be allowed to visit if they meet risk criteria including having a temperature or symptoms of acute respiratory infection.
- Notification is required, by telephone, for all confirmed cases via 1300 651 160, immediately 24 hours per day.
- All close contacts of confirmed cases will be contacted by the department and told to home quarantine for 14 days.
- Victoria will expand its dedicated contact tracing services. From 26 March messages to close contacts will be sent via a new platform called Whisper, which will tell the person to respond back to the contact tracing team confirming they are self-isolating at home.
- Any healthcare or residential aged care worker with a fever or respiratory symptoms should be tested.
- The government is encouraging the community to limit their day-to-day activities outside their homes.
- Additional PPE and testing equipment is due to arrive in the coming weeks.
More information
Clinical information
Health services and general practice - coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Consumer information
About Coronavirus (COVID-19) - information for the general public
World Health Organization - health topic - Coronavirus
Contacts
A public information hotline is provided by Nurse-on-Call – 1800 675 398.
Medical practitioners needing clinical information or to notify suspected or confirmed cases can contact the Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Diseases Section on 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
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