Coronavirus Victoria: Daily cases back to double digits as zero deaths recorded
Victoria’s daily coronavirus cases have jumped back into double digits as the state tries to get on top of a growing Melbourne cluster that has spread into regional Victoria.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced 11 new cases in the previous 24 hours.
It is the sixth consecutive day the daily number of cases has yo-yoed between a single-digit and double-digit figure as the health authorities struggle to drive numbers down during the tail end of the second wave.
The 14-day rolling average for metropolitan Melbourne has fallen to 9.7 from 9.9 while the number of mystery cases in Melbourne has risen to 14, after 12 were reported a day earlier.
In what is a promising trend, the state recorded zero deaths, the second time it has done so in four days.
The death toll remains at 809, with nine deaths recorded over the last week.
Premier ready to push on with roadmap
Premier Daniel Andrews denied the Chadstone cluster, which grew to 31 cases on Wednesday, would hamper Melbourne’s transition to Step Three on the roadmap.
There are two cases confirmed in Kilmore, 60km north of Melbourne, after an infected Melburnian from the cluster dined in a cafe in the town.
More than 200 people were tested in the town on Tuesday as over 100 people have been asked to isolate as authorities look to curtail its spread.
Wednesday’s total of six cases was a welcome result after Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton appeared to lack optimism in exiting Step Two on time.
The city needs a 14-day average of five cases and no more than five mystery cases over the same period before restrictions can be further eased on October 19.
Testing at the border possible, Premier says
Meanwhile, Premier Daniel Andrews has agreed with Prime Minister Scott Morrison that borders should be opened by the end of the year.
But he flagged authorities may request travellers undergo testing before leaving the state.
"You might be able to travel interstate but you might have to take a COVID test first and you might have to wait the 24 hours," Mr Andrews told reporters on Wednesday.
"Or we might have one of these rapid testing technologies fully proved up with enough stockpiles to be able to do a test and 30 minutes later you are free to fly.
"That won't necessarily stop every single infection but it gives you a higher degree of certainty that a person is in fact safe to travel."
At present, NSW and South Australia remained closed to Victoria with some exceptions for border community residents.
with AAP
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