| 22 August 2021
65 | 0 | 1 | 440 | 0 | 44,147 | 9,089,576 |
Cases locally acquired | Cases acquired interstate | Cases acquired overseas | Active cases | Lives lost | Tests processed yesterday | Total tests since pandemic began |
3,355,787 | 7,560 | 5.25 |
Number of permits issued
(Jan 11 – 7am today) | Number of permit applications processed in the past 24 hours | Average # of permits issued per minute in the past 24 hours |
Victoria was notified of 66 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. 65 were locally acquired cases and one was detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.
There are 440 active cases in Victoria – 437 locally acquired and three overseas acquired cases.
There are 27 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. 12 cases are in intensive care and five cases are on ventilators.
The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 21,455.
Update: New restrictions
To see more information on new restrictions, visit https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/lockdown-across-regional-victoria-keep-us-safe and https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings.
From 11:59pm on 23 August, authorised workers can access childcare, kindergarten and early education centres (and take a child to a centre) if:
· at least one parent/guardian is authorised to work, has a valid authorised worker permit, and is working either at home or on site, and
· they cannot make alternative supervision arrangements
Parents and carers of vulnerable children can also access childcare, kindergarten and early education centres. A permit is not required in this case.
Update: Outbreaks
Of today’s 65 local cases:
· 55 are linked to known outbreaks
· 10 cases have their acquisition source under investigation
· 12 were in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period.
As a breakdown of those cases:
· 21 are linked to the Greater Shepparton Community Outbreak – 16 of which were announced yesterday.
· 8 are linked to the Al-Taqwa College
· 8 are linked to the City of Hobsons Bay Community Outbreak
· 5 are linked to MyCentre Childcare Broadmeadows
· 13 are linked to other known outbreaks, including CS Square and the City of Port Phillip
· 10 cases are currently unlinked to any outbreak
103 of the 440 active cases are aged 9 and under. 85 are aged between 10 and 19.
There are currently more than 12,000 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria.
Please check the website for all exposure sites and the dates and times of exposure at: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites.
The Department regularly manages exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, or if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact tracing measures, or if they identify small, private locations – including smaller apartment or townhouse complexes.
Update: Cross-border community
Victoria is now in lockdown – this includes regional Victoria. This impacts reasons why someone living in cross-border communities can enter Victoria.
Previously, a permitted reason people could enter Victoria if eligible for the cross-border community Extreme Risk Zone permit is if they were performing paid or unpaid work, or study. In line with reasons to leave home in regional Victoria, people are now permitted to enter for authorised work or permitted education (including permitted childcare and early childhood services).
Previously, people could enter Victoria if eligible for the cross-border community Extreme Risk Zone permit if they were undertaking sport and exercise that is linked to a club or facility. These facilities are closed under lockdown.
Additionally, people in Victoria can also only travel up to 5km for necessary goods and services, unless the nearest goods and services provider is further than 5km away. These rules will also apply to cross-border residents entering Victoria.
More information is available at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/information-cross-border-communities
To obtain an authorised worker permit, visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-permit
Update: Vaccinations
26,149 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services yesterday.
The total number of doses administered through these services is 2,135,396.
Residential aged care and disability workers will be able to walk up to more than 50 state vaccination centres in Victoria and get vaccinated with the vaccine of their choice, regardless of their age.
This runs from Monday to Sunday. Staff can demonstrate their eligibility by showing their residential aged care or disability staff ID card.
81 per cent of Victoria’s residential public sector aged care staff in Victoria have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Victorian Government is offering paid time off for public sector workers to make it as easy as possible for them to get vaccinated. For more information, visit https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/helping-public-sector-workers-get-jab-sooner
There are 62,894 vaccine appointments available next week, including:
· More than 5,000 at Ford Factory, Geelong
· Almost 1,000 at Wodonga
· More than 1,600 at Shepparton
· More than 2,500 at Warrnambool
· More than 3,000 at Sandown
· More than 4,000 at Melton
· More than 4,000 at MCEC
· More than 1,500 at Frankston’s Bayside Centre
Victoria’s online booking system is now live at: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment or you can ring the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
Information about Victoria’s vaccination centres can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres.
Update: COVID-19 wastewater detections in Victoria
The Department is continuing to identify unexpected detections of COVID-19 fragments in wastewater in metropolitan Melbourne in areas that have not recorded recent positive cases.
Anyone who lives, works or has visited the below listed suburbs and areas is urged to watch for the slightest symptoms of COVID-19 and to get tested as soon as possible if symptoms develop.
Current areas of concern are:
Metro catchments - residential
· Western suburbs: Albion, Braybrook, Footscray, Seddon, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Tottenham and West Footscray – detections in the period of interest 15-20 August. Ardeer – detections in the period of interest 11-16 August. South Kingsville – detections with period of interest 17-20 August.
· Northern suburbs: Coburg, Coburg North, Fawkner, Hadfield, Preston, Reservoir and Thomastown – repeat detections in the period of interest 15-20 August.
· Bayside suburbs of Black Rock, Brighton, Brighton East, Cheltenham, Hampton, Hampton East, Highett and Sandringham – detections in the period of interest 16-19 August.
· Eastern suburbs: seven repeat detections reported in the suburbs of Balwyn, Camberwell, Canterbury, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills. The most recent period of interest is 16-18 August.
Metro catchments - industrial
· Sunshine West – 11 repeated strong detections in the period of interest 8-21 August.
The Sunshine West industrial area is bounded by the Western Ring Road to the west, the Glengala Drain to the north, Kororoit Creek to the east and Industrial and Proximity Drive to the south.
Anyone who works or have visited that area between 8 and 21 August is encouraged to come forward for testing, even if they are not showing symptoms. The Department is working with local businesses to support with testing.
More information is available at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/wastewater-testing-covid-19
Update: Testing
44,147 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.
See new and extended testing sites, where to get tested and expected wait times at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19.
General advice
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If you are experiencing symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.
For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au
Media enquiries: Department of Health Media Unit (03) 9096 8860 or press@dhhs.vic.gov.au
Media Release Attachment - CHO release - COVID-19 - 22 August 2021.pdf [Word, 143172 Bytes]
| 
