Victoria records 19 new coronavirus deaths and 331 cases amid pleas for residents to ‘make the right choices’
Another 19 people have died and 331 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded, Victorian health authorities announced on Tuesday.
Those who died in the past 24 hours include one woman in her 50s, one man in his 70s, six women and four men in their 80s, and four women and three men in their 90s.
Premier Daniel Andrews said 14 of those 19 deaths are linked to aged care outbreaks.
It’s the second consecutive day the state has recorded 19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 246 and the national figure to 331.
Speaking at his daily press conference, Mr Andrews said there are now 7,880 active COVID-19 cases across Victoria, including 1,838 in aged care settings.
Of those active cases, authorities have added about 100 additional mystery cases with an unknown source and another 100 among healthcare workers, bringing the total number of infections among this cohort to 1,185.
Mr Andrews said these infections continue to be of “great concern”.
“Each of those are motivating us to redouble our efforts right across the board to make sure that we’re protecting those people, taking care of those people who take care of us,” he said.
Mr Andrews said nurses have been brought into aged care facilities to cover 1,148 shifts in what are often “confronting and challenging circumstances”.
He called on all Victorians to “make the right choices” in order to protect healthcare workers.
“If you’re making choices to spread the virus, then more healthcare workers will have to treat more patients and more healthcare workers will get sick. So if you honour them, if you want to thank them… then make the best choices for your family, for every family, and for our dedicated health heroes.”
But ultimately, the premier said the health advice he has received appears to indicate case numbers will continue to fall.
“The public health advice to me, all of our experts remain convinced and very confident that as we’re just into the early parts of the second week, not even yet a full week, of many of the Stage 4 most significant changes, we will continue to see data that forms a trend and we continue to see numbers coming down,” he said.
He said indications such as a 90 per cent reduction in train and tram trips last Friday, compared to a typical day in August, show “the strategy is working”.
“Exactly how long that takes and to what the lowest number is we can get to, only time will tell. But there is no alternative, there is no choice.”
The Department of Health and Human Services tweeted Tuesday’s figures moments before Mr Andrews was due to face a parliamentary inquiry over his government’s handling of Victoria’s second coronavirus wave.
Mr Andrews was the first witness called at the second sitting of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee’s COVID-19 Inquiry.
He last appeared at the hearing on 12 May, when the state’s total number of coronavirus cases was 1,509 and just 18 people had died.
Mr Andrews faced immediate questioning from PAEC deputy chair Richard Riordan on the botched hotel quarantine program, which is being blamed for the state’s second wave.
The Herald Sun on Tuesday reported a leaked video of bureaucrats from the Department of Jobs, Precincts and the Regions congratulating themselves on pulling together the program and the efforts made to make guests comfortable.
There is no discussion of the health restrictions put in place.
“Did the crisis Cabinet, think hotel quarantine would be better run by people who fix roads and run an art gallery than your own health department?” Mr Riordan asked.
“The answer to your question is no. At no point did people make a decision like that,” Mr Andrews responded.
Also appearing on Tuesday are Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kym Peake.
Melbourne has been under strict Stage 4 restrictions for more than a week, but health authorities have warned the impact of the lockdown would not be seen for at least another seven days.
Residents are unable to leave their home between 8pm and 5am, can only purchase essential supplies from their nearest supermarket once a day and must not travel beyond a five-kilometre radius of their home.
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am.
During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons. Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative.
All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Source: SBS, AAP.
