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Asymptomatic doctor among new coronavirus cases in Victoria

A Victorian GP is one of the state's new coronavirus cases, the government has revealed.

Eight new coronavirus cases were confirmed, with six of those in quarantine, the state's health department said on Saturday.

The male GP is asymptomatic and caught the potentially deadly virus from a close contact, who also showed no symptoms.

He works at three clinics in the state including Croydon, Lilydale and Coburg, according to the department.

Another recently diagnosed coronavirus case was a close contact of a Rydges worker.

Medical workers look on before taking a sample from a person at a drive-through COVID-19 pop-up testing clinic at the Keilor Community Hub in Melbourne
Medical workers test a sample from a person at a drive-through clinic at the Keilor Community Hub in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Today the government announced it would fund $9.8 million to help homeless Victorians stay in emergency hotel accommodation.

"This additional funding will ensure Victorians experiencing homelessness continue to receive the support and housing they need to stay safe during and long after coronavirus," Minister for Housing Richard Wynne said.

Nine extra planning workers will be temporarily deployed to work in areas of high demand.

These workers would help co-ordinate with local services to ensure each homeless person in a hotel has the support they need to achieve stable housing, the government said.

It comes as workers at the Rydges Hotel in Melbourne, where a cluster was reported, claim lax hygiene sparked the outbreak, The Age reported.

Department of Health and Human Services staff told guards to ration face masks and gloves due to shortage, according to the newspaper.

A general view of the Rydges on Swanston hotel in Melbourne.
Rydges Hotel where another cluster has broken out. Source: AAP (file pic)

"It is outrageous that effectively you've got a hotel that has been taken over to run as a health facility to keep people safe in quarantine and you don't have staff adequately protected," opposition spokesman David Southwick told reporters on Saturday.

Meanwhile, refugee advocates rallied in Melbourne's north to protest against the indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos previously said a gathering of more than 20 would breach the chief health officer's legal directions, so police would have the ability to take action.

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