The number of active coronavirus cases in Ballarat has decreased, according to the detailed DHHS local government area statistics released this afternoon.
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There are now 10 active cases in the Ballarat local government area, down from 11 yesterday.
There were no new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the city today, despite a record 532 in Victoria.
In Ballarat, four people are being treated in hospital; three in a stable condition and one in intensive care.
There are also 10 people being treated by Ballarat Health Services at home.
It is important to note BHS treats people from localities outside the Ballarat local government area, so the number of active cases in Ballarat could be exceeded by the amount of people being treated by BHS.
It has also been confirmed that there are no active cases in Ballarat Aged Care.
BHS released the following statement confirming there had been no cases at Jack Londsale Lodge.
"We can confirm that there have been no COVID-19 cases at or relating to Jack Lonsdale Lodge," the statement reads.
"There are five active cases related to Bill Crawford Lodge, and Ballarat Health Services is providing care for these people.
"Ballarat Aged Care has followed infection prevention protocols and the guidance of infection prevention experts and clinicians to work to contain the spread of COVID19. All staff and residents who were in close contact with positive cases have been tested and may be tested again as part of this response.
"Contact tracing has been undertaken, and any close contacts have been identified and instructed to isolate for the mandatory 14 days under DHHS guidelines. The welfare of our community, staff, patients, residents and clients continues to be at the forefront of our response to COVID19. We will continue to enforce strict infection prevention and control measures, along with visitor restrictions and screening at all Ballarat Health Services sites."
The statistics showed that Golden Plains currently still has five active cases, while Moorabool Shire also remains unchanged on nine.
Hepburn has not had a new case in months, while Pyrenees remains the only municipality in the region not to have had a single case of the virus.
Most of the initial cases are believed to have been returned travellers.
The ratio of active cases to total population remains much lower in Ballarat than it does in metropolitan Melbourne, although infections within the local government area are higher than they are in the region as a whole.
Within Victoria, 154 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 378 are under investigation.
There have been six new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. They were a man in his 50s, a woman and a man in their 70s, a woman and a man in their 80s and a woman in her 90s. Five of the six were related to aged care facilities. To date, 77 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
In Victoria at the current time:
- 1308 cases may indicate community transmission
- 4542 cases are currently active in Victoria
- 245 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 44 in intensive care
- 3817 people have recovered from the virus
- Of the total cases, 8086 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 463 are from regional Victoria
- Total cases include 4317 men and 4280 women
- More than 1,518,000 tests have been processed
- Total number of healthcare workers: 749, active cases: 400
- There are 683 active cases relating to outbreaks across 61 aged care facilities
Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton are as follows:
- 303 cases are residents of various public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. Investigations are continuing into how these cases are linked.
- 66 cases are residents of various public housing towers in Carlton. Investigations are continuing into if and/or how these cases are linked.
Aged care facilities with the highest cumulative case loads are as follows:
- 84 cases have been linked to St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner
- 82 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
- 77 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
- 62 cases have been linked to Menarock Life Aged Care Facility in Essendon
- 53 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee
- 57 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
- 50 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
Single cases in staff members at the following aged care facilities have also been notified to the department - St Andrews Aged Care in Sunshine, Mercy Place Wyndham Aged Care Facility in Werribee, Mercy Place Keon Park Aged Care in Reservoir, VMCH Corpus Christi Aged Care in Clayton, VMCH Aged Care in Berwick, Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North, Uniting AgeWell in Box Hill and Japara Bayview Aged Care in Carrum Downs.
Cases currently linked to key outbreaks are as follows:
- 95 cases have been linked to Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham
- 71 cases have been linked to JBS in Brooklyn
- 69 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown
- 47 cases have been linked to Australian Lamb Company in Colac
- 13 cases have been linked to the Linfox Warehouse in Truganina
- 8 cases have been linked to Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North
- 6 cases have been linked to Don KR Castlemaine
- 26 cases have been linked to LaManna Supermarket in Essendon Fields
- 22 cases have been linked to Brunswick Private Hospital
- 6 cases have been linked to Parkville Youth Justice
- 12 cases have been linked to Respite Services Australia in Moonee Ponds
Four cases have been linked to the NICU at the Royal Children's Hospital. The cases are two parents, one patient and a healthcare worker. All babies, staff and parents, including any RCH staff who have spent more than two hours on Butterfly Ward since 12 July will be tested.
As investigations are undertaken throughout the day, these outbreak totals are likely to change as the public health team identify links between cases and identified outbreaks.
PLEASE NOTE - Organisation based outbreaks totals include contacts as well as employees/residents/staff/students of that location/business.
People living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are required to wear a face covering when leaving home for one of the four reasons.
There will be some reasons not to wear a face covering. For example, those who have a medical reason, children under 12 or during strenuous exercise.
Stage 3 "Stay at Home" restrictions are in force across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
"These restrictions are necessary because of the ongoing high number of cases we're seeing," said Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
"If you live in these areas, there are only four reasons to leave your home: shopping for food and essential items; care and caregiving; daily exercise; and work and study - if you can't do it from home.
"These are tough measures, but this virus is not selective - it will impact anyone it encounters, and personal contact is the clear source of its transmission. We need everyone to do their part and ensure it is stopped in its tracks."
VICTORIA'S NIGHTMARE MONTH
- Monday July 27: 532 new cases as daily cases hits 500 for first time, six deaths
- Sunday July 26: 459 new cases as double-digit death toll is recorded for first time with 10 deaths
- Saturday July 25: 357 new cases, five new deaths
- Friday July 24: 300 cases, six deaths, ADF role expanded to help with contact tracing.
- Thursday July 23 - 403 cases, five deaths, worst day for fatalities in any state, masks now mandatory
- Wednesday July 22 - 484 cases, two deaths
- Tuesday July 21 - 374 cases, three deaths
- Monday July 20 - 275 cases, one death
- Sunday July 19 - 363 cases, three deaths, notice that masks will become mandatory in lockdown areas
- Saturday July 18 - 217 cases, three deaths, final Melbourne public housing tower released from hard lockdown
- Friday July 17 - 428 cases, three deaths
- Thursday July 16 - 317 cases, two deaths
- Wednesday July 15 - 238 cases, one death
- Tuesday July 14 - 270 cases, two deaths
- Monday July 13 - 177 cases
- Sunday July 12 - 273 cases, one death
- Saturday July 11 - 216 cases, one death
- Friday July 10 - 288 cases, a national daily record at the time
- Thursday July 9 - 165 cases, eight of nine Melbourne public housing towers released from hard lockdown
- Wednesday July 8 - 134 cases, new stage-three restrictions announced for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire
- Tuesday July 7 - 191 cases
- Monday July 6 - 127 cases, two deaths, NSW border closed
- Sunday July 5 - 74 cases
- Saturday July 4 - 108 cases, immediate hard lockdown of nine Melbourne public housing towers
- Friday July 3 - 66 cases
- Thursday July 2 - 77 cases
- Wednesday July 1 - 73 cases
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS
WHERE TO TAKE A COVID-19 TEST IN BALLARAT
Everyone who feels even the slightest cold or flu-like symptom must assume they have the virus until a test result proves otherwise. Anybody with symptoms or awaiting a result should self-isolate at home.
- If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, make an appointment either online or by phone (4311 1571) to take a test at Lucas Community Hub. Tests are by appointment only.
- There is now a testing site at the Ballarat Senior Citizens Centre in the CBD. People are encouraged to book a test by calling 1800 054 172.
AFFECTED BY THIS STORY?
Support is available. You are never alone.
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au
- Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467
- Mensline: 1300 789 978 or mensline.org.au
- Survivors of Suicide: 0449 913 535
- Relationships Australia: 1800 050 321
- headspace Ballarat (for 12-25s and parent support): 5304 4777
- Soldier On: 1300 620 380
- Ballarat Community Health: 5338 4500
- QLife: 1800 184 527 (Support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people)
- Family violence: 1800 RESPECTVeterans support: If you or someone you know needs support call Open Arms on 1800 011 046 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visit www.openarms.gov.au
- For Aboriginal crisis support: Yarning SafeNStrong, 1800 959 563 (noon to 10pm)
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