Victoria records nine new coronavirus cases and zero deaths
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Source: AAP
Victoria has recorded another nine coronavirus cases and zero new deaths after Melbourne residents flocked to the beach over the weekend.
Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average now stands at 11.6 cases, according to department of health figures released on Monday morning. There were 13 cases with an unknown source recorded in the fortnight to 2 October.
Regional Victoria’s fortnightly average has dropped to 0.3, with zero cases with an unknown source over the 14-day period.
The average new daily case count needs to drop below five and there must be fewer than five mystery cases per fortnight before authorities further ease Melbourne’s lockdown restrictions.
Victorian police were out in force at beaches over the weekend, with warm weather leading to an influx of beachgoers and “unacceptable” scenes on Friday night.
Seven News footage showed crowds gathering, many without masks, at the beach, while a journalist was approached by several people and kissed on the head as he spoke live to camera.
“We are so, so close. Let’s not any of us do anything that might undermine the very positive numbers,” Mr Andrews said on Sunday.
Victoria’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 806, while a total of 894 Australians have died from the virus nationally.
SBS
