Coronavirus Victoria: Cases drop as Melbourne hits significant milestone
Victoria’s daily coronavirus cases have dropped back to a single-digit figure despite health authorities warning of the “challenging” nature of the second wave’s tail end.
Six new cases on Tuesday forced metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average below 10 for the first time since the peak of the second wave.
The promising news comes a day after the state reached a nine-day high in cases as the Chadstone cluster spread into regional Victoria and threatened the state’s chances of reaching the roadmap’s next trigger points.
Metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average now sits at 9.9. The roadmap says Step Three can only be taken with an average below five, and less than five mystery cases over that period.
Two further deaths were confirmed taking the state’s death toll to 809.
New cluster hampers route out of lockdown
On Tuesday, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the state’s contact tracing team faced a “gargantuan task” in its efforts to control and subsequently suppress the second wave.
“The challenge in this wave is profoundly different to what any other jurisdiction in Australia has followed up,” he said.
“I don't think anyone really understands what a gargantuan task the contact tracing has been through this wave.”
Professor Sutton said the average family size involved in Victoria’s second wave was six to 10, much higher than the Australian average.
He hinted on Tuesday restrictions may not be eased as expected on October 19 as the state struggles to force daily numbers down.
“We all have to be prepared for whatever may come,” he said.
As of Tuesday, 28 cases were linked to the Butcher Club at Chadstone, including two people in Kilmore, 60km north of Melbourne, after an infected person from Melbourne travelled there with a permit and breached restrictions by dining in a cafe.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
