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Coronavirus Victoria: Daily cases in single digits for first time in a week

Victoria’s daily coronavirus cases have dropped to a single-digit figure for the first time in a week.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced seven new cases on Wednesday, while five more deaths were confirmed.

The state’s death toll now stands at 816, with the latest daily death toll the highest since September 29.

Metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average has dropped to 9.6 after it had risen for two consecutive days.

Mystery cases for the city stand at 14.

Regional town on high alert after super-spreader visit

Three of Wednesday’s cases are in the northern Victorian town of Shepparton, 180km north of Melbourne, prompting authorities to ask everyone in the area to be tested.

The Department of Health and Human Services is calling on all Shepparton residents to come forward for testing. Source: AAP
The Department of Health and Human Services is calling on all Shepparton residents to come forward for testing. Source: AAP

The cases are linked to the Chadstone outbreak and were caused by the same truck driver who illegally dined at a Kilmore cafe, sparking a cluster in the regional town.

The driver only declared he made a stop-off in Shepparton to health authorities on Tuesday.

The DHHS’s testing chief Jeroen Weinmar told ABC Radio it was “hugely concerning” the information was only divulged nearly two weeks after the trip and if it had been revealed during earlier interviews, authorities could have acted quicker.

The new cases were announced late on Tuesday by Mr Weimar with fears the cases could signal the beginnings of a new cluster in the region.

Local MP Suzanna Sheed said she was “truly gutted” with the detection of cases.

“It is truly devastating that here we are in October and we have all worked so hard, we have all done the right thing for so long, and this sort of news just blows out a community,” she told ABC Breakfast.

“[It] creates such uncertainty and concern and fear among a lot of people.”

She said the town was reliant on essential workers from Melbourne to keep it going and the cases show “how quickly [the virus] can spread”.

Regional Victoria’s 14-day rolling average has risen to 0.6.

Pressure mounts on Premier to end lockdown

On Tuesday, NSW recorded more coronavirus cases than Victoria’s 12, albeit six of NSW’s 13 occurring in hotel quarantine, prompting questioning at Victoria’s daily coronavirus press conference on the state’s stringent lockdown measures.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton stressed the differences between the two states are “really profound”.

Premier Daniel Andrews did reveal however that Melbourne’s roadmap will likely be revised with Step Three’s trigger points now unachievable by Sunday when he plans to announce the latest round of changes to restrictions.

An opposition no-confidence motion against Mr Andrews handling of the pandemic failed in parliament on Tuesday night.

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