BALLARAT COVID UPDATE | Thursday, December 9
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NEW CASES: 9 (up from 5 yesterday)
ACTIVE CASES: 55 (up from 48 yesterday)
Ballarat has recorded nine new cases of COVID in the 24 hours to midnight Wednesday.
Thursday's figures have been released unusually late and have also shown an increase of active cases within the local government area.
Seven of the new cases are listed in the 3350 postcode while one is in the 3352 area and the other in 3357.
The Moorabool Shire has reported two new cases, both in the 3342 postcode.
Meantime the Pyrenees Shire has seen a further six new cases while the Golden Plains and Hepburn Shires have not reported any new cases.
VICTORIAN COVID UPDATE | Thursday, December 9
NEW CASES: 1,232 (down from 1,312 yesterday)
DEATHS: 9 (up from 5 yesterday)
ACTIVE CASES: 11,224 (down from 11,331 yesterday)
IN HOSPITAL: 315 (up from 303 yesterday)
IN ICU: 52 (up from 51 yesterday)
ON VENTILATOR: 27 (the same as yesterday)
Victoria has reported 1232 new COVID-19 infections and a further nine deaths, as the state probes another two suspected Omicron variant cases.
The health department on Thursday confirmed the state is managing 11,224 active cases, down slightly from 11,331 on Wednesday.
There are 315 patients in hospital, 96 of whom are in intensive care and 27 requiring ventilation.
The seven-day hospitalisation average sits at 302.
Testers processed 71,178 results on Wednesday, while 3647 people were vaccinated in state-run hubs.
More than 91 per cent of Victorians over 12 are fully vaccinated.
In Ballarat, active cases fell for the second day in a row yesterday, although today's figures are yet to be fully released.
There are now 48 active cases in the city.
Ballarat continues to be one of regional centres that has been managed the spread of COVID.
It comes as genomic sequencing is underway on a further two likely Omicron cases, after Victoria confirmed its first case of the new variant among a returned international traveller in hotel quarantine on Wednesday.
The two cases were detected in the cities of Casey and Brimbank and returned results with S gene dropout, a signature of the Omicron variant.
Several contacts of the cases have been identified and told to quarantine for 14 days, while lower risk contacts have been instructed to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Meanwhile, an attendee at Sunday's Liberal Party state council at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has tested positive for COVID-19.
In an email to members on Wednesday night, Victorian party director Sam McQuestin confirmed the case.
He wrote the health department had deemed the event a "lower risk exposure scenario" and, as such, attendees should monitor for symptoms.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy were among the hundreds of members at the meeting.
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