Advertisement

Coronavirus Victoria: Cases soar beyond 600 again, 8 more deaths

Victoria announced yet another elevated total of daily coronavirus cases above 600, while confirming a further eight deaths from COVID-19.

Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a further 627 cases on Friday, and suggested further restrictions could be imminent.

It comes just a day after the state announced a record 723 daily cases and an unprecedented 13 deaths in just 24 hours – making it by far Australia’s worst day since the pandemic began.

Friday’s daily total is the second highest for any state.

Victoria has reported 57 deaths in the space of a week – a total larger than all of NSW’s deaths from the entire pandemic.

Friday’s victims were two men in their 50s, two men in their 70s, three men in their 80s, one woman in her 70s. Four of the eight are linked to aged care.

Medical staff and the health commander are seen at Epping Gardens aged care facility. Source: AAP
Medical staff and the health commander are seen at Epping Gardens aged care facility. Source: AAP

Mr Andrews described Victoria’s ongoing situation as being in a state of “limbo”.

“Unless we drive that number down then we will not see our numbers halve and halve again and halve again and we will be in this limbo where we have stopped it from getting completely out of control... but we haven't been able to suppress it sufficiently,” he said.

One in four positive cases not at home

With all positive cases now being doorknocked by Department of Health and Human Services officers and Defence personnel, Mr Andrews said one in four positive cases could not be found at home on Thursday from more than 500 checks.

“There will be a multitude of reasons for that. But what I can confirm for you is that more than 100 cases have been referred to Victoria Police,” he said.

“It is simply unacceptable.”

Mr Andrews said while some people would have been out getting fresh air, it “doesn’t explain these numbers”.

“It doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about it, you had the presence of mind to go and get tested and we’re grateful for that. But you've got the virus, you need to stay at home.”

On Thursday, he stated people were still going to work with symptoms and even a small number were going with the knowledge they were positive.

He reiterated there are two payouts for people who are either waiting for testing results ($300) or for those who have tested positive ($1500) to ensure they don’t go to work with symptoms.

He said 5,200 people had received the $300 payment, and while a statistic wasn’t available for the latter payment, Mr Andrews said a significant number of people had been paid the amount.

‘Next step’ decided by data research

While Mr Andrews and Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressed earlier this week there was no medical advice to tighten current restrictions, the two leaders held crisis talks on Thursday night as they look to prevent the outbreak from spiralling out of control.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters health teams will now analyse the current data to determine exactly where the virus is spreading, with Mr Andrews saying the findings will dictate Melbourne’s “next step”.

"Demographic data like country of origin and languages spoken to see where the virus is concentrated and to explore those hypothesis to see where transmission is occurring," Professor Sutton said.

Mr Andrews said he and Mr Morrison both agreed it will be “almost impossible” for businesses to recover and survive until the numbers go down.

"The best advice may well come to me that we need to take further steps, that the steps we've taken are not enough to pull this up," he said.

Attentions are firmly placed on aged care facilities and essential workers, with large outbreaks festering in multiple locations, notably meat works.

Prof Sutton said on Friday a “significant” number of cases were being driven by workplace transmission, which is then spread in the home.

Friday’s cases will likely take the number of active cases linked to the private aged care sector over 1000.

Authorities have warned Victorians to expect further deaths linked to aged care, with the majority of recent deaths linked to private facilities.

Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said on Wednesday the current rate of deaths was “a certainty” as long as the cases at the current level continue.

The state’s death toll stands at 112.

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.