Victoria has broken a record for COVID-19 cases - but not in a good way.
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The state has recorded another 484 COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours - the highest daily tally confirmed in the state since the pandemic began.
The previous record was 428 infections announced on July 17, as the state battles with a 'second wave' affecting most of the world.
Premier Daniel Andrews released the staggering number in a press conference shortly after 12.30pm on Wednesday.
The 484 cases brings the total amount to 6739 since the pandemic began, 3408 of which are active.
Of the new cases, 97 are from known outbreaks, while 387 are under investigation.
Two more males in their 90s - residents of aged care facilities - have died from COVID-19, bringing the state toll to 44.
Despite the record daily cases number, he did not announce any new restrictions.
Mr Andrews said a staggering nine in 10 people who tested positive between July 7 and 21 - about 3400 people - did not isolate from when they felt sick to when they got tested.
"They have gone out shopping. They have gone to work. They have been at the height of their infectivity, and they have just continued on as usual."
Furthermore, he said one in two people went "about their business" after waiting for their test results rather than self-isolating.
"We certainly cannot have one in two people who are waiting for a test result simply going about their business as if they didn't have symptoms, as if they weren't waiting for a test result, as if this wasn't a global pandemic."
The premier encouraged people who could not take sick leave to access a one-off $1500 payment by calling 1800 675 398.
The new cases come as Melbourne hotspot residents get set to don masks or other 'face covers' when outside or face a $200 fine.
In the past 24 hours, police conducted almost 5000 spot checks at homes, businesses and public places across locked-down metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and issued 61 fines.
Fines were issued to a person caught travelling from Strathmore to the Surf Coast for a surfing trip, a group of people "sitting on a park bench drinking alcohol in the Melbourne CBD" and people attending a party in Monash.
Nineteen fines were also issued to drivers at vehicle checkpoints leaving the city.
No new figures have been released for local government areas, but this is expected later this afternoon.
Ballarat remained steady yesterday afternoon with no new COVID-19 cases, while Golden Plains - which stretches from Ballarat to Geelong and includes Smythesdale and Haddon - recorded another three.
Moorabool, which takes in southern Ballarat, Ballan and Bacchus Marsh, had another two infections.
Ballarat Health Services confirmed to The Courier late on Tuesday two patients in a stable condition were still being treated at the Ballarat Base Hospital. No further information was provided.
Meanwhile, there are no new updates on BHS' Bill Crawford Lodge where a staff member and resident tested positive for COVID-19.
The other seven active cases in Ballarat remain isolated at home.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS
For more information on COVID-19, visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.
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