Coronavirus Victoria: Cases rise again to nine-day high
Metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average continues to fall despite a rise in daily coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
The 14-day rolling average now sits at 10.6 after the Department of Health and Human Services announced 15 new cases in the previous 24 hours.
It is the joint-highest daily total in nine days and follows a revised total of eight cases on Monday.
The state recorded one new death, taking its death toll to 807.
The gradual decline of the rolling figure is promising news for Melburnians eyeing the next step on the roadmap out of lockdown which requires a 14-day average below five.
‘It will be a line ball’
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said on Monday the other target set for October 19 – less than five mystery cases in that time period – might not need to be met to move to Step Three.
“We can have more than five mystery cases. We'd have to see exactly where we were at at that time including the trend,” he said.
Professor Sutton has also previously suggested the 14-day rolling average could be higher for Step Three if mystery cases are at low levels.
Melbourne's total number of mystery cases between September 20 and October 3 is 13.
Step Three will see hospitality venues open with outdoor service and restrictions on leaving the home end.
However Premier Daniel Andrews has not ruled out extending the 5km limit to restrict the movement of people.
A potential 10km limit is under consideration as well, Prof Sutton said.
He said on Monday he was unsure whether Melbourne would hit the targets by October 19.
"My gut feeling is it will be a line ball. It's not certain one way or the other,” he said.
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