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Coronavirus Victoria: Another huge jump in cases amid 'second wave'

Victoria has announced yet another triple digit daily coronavirus total as millions of Melbourne residents prepare themselves for a six-week lockdown.

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed a further 134 cases in the state on Wednesday morning – the third consecutive day Victorian cases surpassed the 100-case mark.

On Tuesday 191 cases were announced while there were 127 on Monday, both which set the highest daily totals the state had seen to date.

The surge in cases in recent days has prompted Mr Andrews to return metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to Stage Three restrictions from midnight tonight.

There are now 75 cases confirmed in the nine public housing towers placed into hard lockdown on Saturday.

Eleven of the new cases are linked to existing outbreaks while 123 are under investigation.

While Mr Andrews said the majority of Victorians were cooperating with restrictions, Police Commissioner Shane Patton warned a small minority were tarnishing the efforts of the state.

“We've still got others who are doing stupid, selfish, reckless actions,” he said.

Police to crackdown on rule flouters

The new lockdown measures which allow people only leave their homes for work and education, giving or receiving care, exercise and essential shopping also prohibit the travel outside of the metropolitan region.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a further 134 cases ahead of Melbourne's six-week lockdown. source: AAP
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a further 134 cases ahead of Melbourne's six-week lockdown. source: AAP

Mr Andrews said a further 700 police officers were being deployed to ensure residents who don’t have justifiable reasons aren’t leaving the city.

Infringement notices of $1,652 will apply for those breaching the order.

Mr Andrews urged for people to call out those flouting the rules.

"When you see some people that aren't doing the right thing, then you have to call that out,” he said.

"It's not polite in some ways, it might add to the frustration of some.

"But, you know, we are beyond that. We need to be clear and direct and frank and I am not pleased to be in this set of circumstances.”

Commissioner Patton said there will be a “significant police presence” on main roads surrounding Melbourne.

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews said it was “completely irrelevant” if the outbreak was being branded a “second wave” and urged Victorians to focus on their efforts to curtail its spread.

“We have to be realistic about the circumstances that we confront. We have to be clear with each other that this is not over,” he said.

Victoria testing blunder leads to NSW transmission scare

During a testing blitz which has seen more than 20,000 people routinely tested daily, the state has now surpassed one million tests.

Yet an error while testing a Victorian family who have since travelled to NSW for a holiday has lead to transmission fears in the state’s south.

Victoria Health has since informed NSW health authorities the test results which indicated a teenage boy in that family was negative for the virus was incorrect, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told reporters on Wednesday.

The family, which are holidaying in the coastal town of Merimbula near the Victorian border, are now isolating as are their close contacts.

Dr Chant revealed the family had attended the Tathra Hotel before the revelation the boy was positive.

Eighty people who were in the hotel at the same time have been contacted.

NSW announced eight new cases on Wednesday, seven of which are from hotel quarantine.

The eighth is a woman in southwest Sydney and investigations into her case are ongoing.

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