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Update for October 31
TOTAL BALLARAT CASES: 58 (no increase since October 23)
ACTIVE BALLARAT CASES: 0 (no increase since September 9)
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has hinted Victorian authorities could raise cap limits and density quotas higher than initially planned for some industries, as the state celebrates its second straight COVID-free day.
Victoria didn't record any fresh cases or deaths on Sunday, and active cases continued to tumble.
The state also reported no new infections on Saturday, with an expert panel reclassifying one case as a false positive.
"Another very good day for Victoria," said Deputy Premier James Merlino on Sunday, filling in for state leader Daniel Andrews.
Back-to-back days without adding to Victoria's virus tally coincides with the first weekend of Melbourne cafes, restaurants and pubs reopening to walk-in customers.
More restrictions are due to ease next Sunday including the scrapping of the so- called "ring of steel" dividing the city from the regions, along with the 25km travel limit. Although the encouraging case numbers won't bring forward that date, Professor Sutton said authorities would mull over changes that went beyond those previously announced.
"What allowances come on November 8 will absolutely be informed by what this week looks like," he said."Some of the details might change ... we can always make consideration of what caps might be in certain settings, what density quotients might be in those settings.
Prof Sutton said Victoria could be down to "a couple of dozen" active cases by next week. Nearly 16,000 tests were taken in the past 24 hours, with Prof Sutton saying it verified Sunday's result as a "true zero".
Mandatory masks will remain a feature of Victorians' daily lives for some time yet but that rule may be revisited with less virus circulating in the community.
"Clearly we should be transitioning and we will be transitioning from universal mask-wearing to maybe indoors only, to maybe just high-risk settings, at the appropriate time," Prof Sutton said.
The Victorian government also announced it would hand out $200 vouchers to support children's return to netball courts, football fields and cricket nets as part of a $45.2 million package
The total number of cases now at 20,346, down one from yesterday as one case has been reclassified.
To date, 819 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
Regional Victoria still remains COVID-free for the sixth day in a row - let's hope it stays that way as we get closer to the end of the 'ring of steel' border with Melbourne at 11.59pm on November 8.
Ballarat's total coronavirus case numbers remain steady at 58.
The rolling 14-day average for Melbourne dropped (from 2.4 to 2.2), while regional Victoria remains steady on 0.
The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days (16 Oct 2020 - 29 Oct 2020) is one for metropolitan Melbourne and zero from regional Victoria.
The mystery case is in the postcode 3081.
There has not been a mystery case in the regions since September 1.
Restrictions for Ballarat and regional Victoria lifted further from Wednesday morning. See the changes right here.
The following message has been issued by the DHHS:
Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,346.
The overall total has decreased by one, as one case has been reclassified.
There have been no new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. To date, 819 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days (16 Oct 2020 - 29 Oct 2020) is one for metropolitan Melbourne and zero from regional Victoria. The 14-day period for the source of acquisition data ends 48 hours earlier than the 14-day period used to calculate the new case average due to the time required to fully investigate a case and assign its mode of acquisition.
The one mystery case is in the postcode 3081.
The Department of Health and Human Services continues to work to contain an outbreak of coronavirus in Melbourne's northern suburbs with just under 35,000 tests processed from that area since Tuesday 20 October.
A total of 2,103 test results were processed yesterday, with a further 876 tests processed this morning from northern suburbs testing sites in the local government areas of Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland and Nillumbik.
In the Deer Park area, the Department is continuing to investigate a case reported on Friday and is encouraging people with any symptoms to visit a local testing site. The case is being managed as a new infection pending further tests, with 21 close contacts identified and in quarantine.
In Victoria at the current time:
- 4276 cases may indicate community transmission - the same as yesterday.
- 61 cases are currently active in Victoria.
- 2 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, there are no cases in intensive care
- 19,466 people have recovered from the virus
- A total of 3,190,219 test results have been received which is an increase of 15,998 since yesterday.
Of the 61 current active cases in Victoria:
- 61 are in metropolitan Melbourne under the Third Step of our roadmap
- There are no cases in regional local government areas under the Third Step of our roadmap.
Of the total cases:
- 18,954 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 1199 are from regional Victoria
- Total cases include 9702 men and 10,631 women
- Total number of healthcare workers: 3574, active cases: 3
- There are 4 active cases relating to aged care facilities
Non-aged care outbreaks with the highest number of active cases include:
- Northern metro region community (active 17, total 42)
- Eastern Health Box Hill Hospital (active 1, total 15)
As public health work is undertaken throughout the day, outbreak totals are likely to change as the public health team identify links between cases and identified outbreaks. Organisation based outbreak totals include contacts as well as employees/residents/staff/students of that location/business.
Information regarding COVID-19 is available at the Department of Health and Human Services website or by calling 1800 675 398. Testing site details are available here.
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.
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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