Ballarat has once again gone another day without any coronavirus growth, but nearby cities have seen numbers jump substantially.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There are still 10 active cases in Ballarat out of a total of 24, a number that has not changed all week, according to data released by the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday afternoon.
In another promising sign for Ballarat, the patient who was being treated in intensive care has improved. There are now four people being treated by Ballarat Health Services listed as "stable", with the others in quarantine at home.
Moorabool Shire also remained steady with 12 actives cases, as did Golden Plains on eight.
However, there was an additional case discovered in Golden Plains, to take the overall total to 13.
READ MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS
In comparison, Geelong and Bendigo saw substantial increases in active cases.
In Geelong, active cases jumped from 44 to 59 in just 24 hours, while in Bendigo that count increased from 11 to 18.
The news comes on the same day Premier Daniel Andrews announced tighter restrictions for Moorabool and Golden Plains shires, plus four other shires surrounding the Geelong area.
Residents in those areas are no longer allowed to have any visitors into their home, but the measures are still not as tight as metropolitan Melbourne.
However, they are allowed to visit restaurants and cafes, gyms and attend community sport.
Facemasks will also become mandatory when leaving home throughout the entire state from 11.56pm Sunday.
Overall, Victoria has recorded 723 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 9,998.
The overall total has increased by 694 due to 29 cases being reclassified - largely due to duplication.
Within Victoria, 64 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 660 are under investigation.
There have been 13 new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. They were three men in their 70s, three women in their 70s, three men in their 80s, two women in their 80s and two men in their 90s. Ten of the 13 deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities. To date, 105 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
In Victoria at the current time:
- 1698 cases may indicate community transmission
- 5385 cases are currently active in Victoria
- 312 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 34 in intensive care
- 4259 people have recovered from the virus
- Of the total cases, 9230 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 565 are from regional Victoria
- Total cases include 4945 men and 4931 women
- More than 1,574,600 tests have been processed
- Total number of healthcare workers: 951, active cases: 549
- There are 877 active cases relating to outbreaks across aged care facilities
Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton are as follows:
311 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.
Active aged care outbreaks with the highest cumulative case numbers are as follows:
- 94 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
- 111 cases have been linked to St Basil's Homes for the Aged in Fawkner
- 90 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
- 81 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
- 67 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
- 62 cases have been linked to Menarock Life Aged Care Facility in Essendon
- 56 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee
- 52 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Weribee
- 49 cases have been linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North
- 42 cases have been linked to Arcare Aged Care Facility in Craigieburn
A single case in a staff member has been notified at the BlueCross Willowmeade residential aged care facility in Kilmore. The facility has been locked down and all staff and residents will be tested.
Cases currently linked to key outbreaks are as follows:
- 121 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown
- 106 cases have been linked to Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham
- 82 cases have been linked to JBS in Brooklyn
- 64 cases have been linked to Australian Lamb Company in Colac
- 30 cases have been linked to Woolworths Distribution Centre Mulgrave
- 30 cases have been linked to Melbourne Health Royal Park Campus
- 22 cases have been linked to Respite Services Australia in Moonee Ponds
- 20 cases have been linked to Nino Early Learning Adventures in Bundoora
- 19 cases have been linked to Hazeldean Transition Care, Western Health
- 16 cases have been linked to the Linfox Warehouse in Truganina
- 11 cases have been linked to Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North
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. Organisation based outbreaks totals include contacts as well as employees/residents/staff/students of that location/business.
Last week, we announced that face coverings would be mandatory in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. Today, we announced that same requirement will apply across regional Victoria.
That means from Sunday 2 August at 11:59pm, a face covering will be mandatory whenever you leave home - wherever you live.
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.
VICTORIA'S NIGHTMARE MONTH
- Thursday July 30: 723 cases, 13 deaths. Just when it was looking promising, alarming new record set.
- Wednesday July 29: 295 new cases, nine deaths as new cases drop below 300 for first time in nine days
- Tuesday July 28: 380 new cases, six deaths as aged care outbreaks continue to climb
- 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
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)
The Courier has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
