The rate of confirmed cases of the illness COVID-19 has continued to accelerate from mid March.

For the first time on March 18, the government confirmed cases in the state outside of Melbourne, with five recorded in regional areas.

These figures are official figures only, and reflect only the number of confirmed cases.

The actual number is likely to be considerably more - some estimate up to 10 times as many, as tests are only applied to patients at particular risk, as well as health and aged care workers.

Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, was reported as saying in The New York Times that 3,500 confirmed cases in the U.S could translate to as many as 35,000 in reality.

CASES: 520

DEATHS: 3

Victoria has recorded its first three deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Both were men aged in their seventies.

They both died in Melbourne hospitals.

The deaths came as the state's total number of cases increased to 520.

In Victoria, the total number of cases includes 300 men and 216 women.

People are aged from pre-school age to their late eighties.

Four cases are under investigation.At the present time, there are nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.

Currently 14 people are in hospital, including three patients in intensive care.

One hundred and forty-nine people have recovered.

More than 26,900 Victorians have been tested to date.

Most cases have been in metropolitan Melbourne, with more that 50 cases in regional Victoria.

READ MORE:

See how the number of confirmed cases has evolved from state to state.

After the first reported cases in late January, the graph clearly shows how the virus - known for its highly contagious nature - has gathered momentum in most areas in Australia.

New South Wales is clearly where the epicentre of the outbreak is in Australia, but other states are likely to find the number of confirmed cases shortly follow the same trajectory.

Please note that this graph may lag around 24 hours as we wait to collate accurate data from each the department of health in each state and territory.

Mapped: CASES IN AUSTRALIA

The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 466 - an increase of 55 from yesterday.

The total number of cases includes 271 men and 191 women (with four cases under investigation). People are aged from pre-school age to their late eighties.

At the present time, there are eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.

Currently 12 people are in hospital, including two patients in intensive care.

One hundred and twenty eight people have recovered. More than 25,500 Victorians have been tested to date.

Of the total 466 cases, there have been 386 in metropolitan Melbourne and 47 in regional Victoria.

A number of cases remain under investigation.

Multiple cases have occurred in the regional local government areas of:

Greater Geelong (11)

Ballarat (5)

Baw Baw (2)

Greater Shepparton (2)

Surf Coast (2)

Warrnambool (2)

Latrobe (2)

Macedon Ranges (2)

Mitchell (4)

Mount Alexander (3)

Bass Coast (1)

East Gippsland (1)

Gannawarra (1)

Hepburn (1)

Mildura (1)

Moira (1)

Moyne (1)

Moorabool (1)

Northern Grampians (1)

South Gippsland (1)

Wellington (1)

Yarriambiack (1).

Confirmed cases: 411

Deaths: 0

Sixty-four new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday - bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 411.

The new cases include 36 men and 27 women (and one being further investigated), with people aged from pre-school age to late eighties.At the present time, there are six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.

Currently 12 people are in hospital, including two patients in intensive care.

One hundred and thirteen people have recovered. More than 25,000 Victorians have been tested to date.

Of the total 411 cases, there have been 350 in metropolitan Melbourne and 41 in regional Victoria.

A number of cases remain under investigation.

Where are the cases outside of Melbourne?

Greater Geelong (10)

Ballarat (4)

Baw Baw (2)

Greater Shepparton (3)

Surf Coast (2)

Warrnambool (2)

Macedon Ranges (2)

Mitchell (3)

Mount Alexander (3)

Bass Coast (1)

Gannawarra (1)

Hepburn (1)

Latrobe (1)

Mildura (1)

Moira (1)

Moorabool (1)

South Gippsland (1)

Wellington (1)

Yarriambiack (1)

Confirmed cases: 355

Deaths: 0

Sixty-one new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday - bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 355.

The new cases include 34 men and 25 women, with people aged early-teens to mid-eighties. Two cases remain under investigation.

At the present time, there are six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.

Currently six people are recovering in hospital, and 97 people have recovered. More than 23,700 Victorians have been tested to date.

Where are the cases outside of Melbourne?

Greater Geelong (9)

Ballarat (4)

Baw Baw (2)

Greater Shepparton (2)

Surf Coast (2)

Macedon Ranges (2)

Mitchell (2)

Bass Coast (1)

East Gippsland (1)

Gannawarra (1)

Latrobe (1)

Yarriambiack (1)

Hepburn (1)

Moorabool (1)

Wellington (1)

Mount Alexander (1)

Mildura (1)

Sixty-seven new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed on Sunday - bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 296.

The new cases include 42 men and 25 women, with people aged from late teens to early 80s.

At the present time, there are three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.

Currently six people are recovering in hospital, and 70 people have recovered. More than 22,900 Victorians have been tested to date.

Confirmed cases: 296

Deaths: 0

Where the cases are in Victoria:

Melbourne: 256

Geelong: 8

Ballarat: 3

Hepburn: 1

Surf Coast: 2

Warrnambool: 2

Macedon Ranges: 2

Mildura: 1

Latrobe: 1

Yarriambiack: 1

Gannawarra: 1

Moorabool: 1

Mitchell: 1

Greater Shepparton: 1

We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.

Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.