New Covid cases as Melbourne awaits lockdown decision
A further two locally acquired Covid-19 cases have been announced by Victorian health authorities on Tuesday as Melburnians nervously await a decision on whether its two-week lockdown will be extended.
Victoria has now recorded 85 cases since its first cases of the outbreak emerged on May 24.
The state government will later confirm if any of the latest cases are linked to the Delta variant cluster, which grew to 14 on Monday.
Acting Premier James Merlino and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton have been reluctant to commit to an easing of restrictions amid calls to lift the lockdown. The second week of lockdown is set to end midnight on Thursday.
Dr Norman Swan, the face of the ABC's coronavirus coverage, said if there were no surprises in the next 48 hours, some easing should happen for areas of the city without infection.
"I would have thought [a citywide lockdown will not be needed] after Thursday, because they really do seem to be pinning everything down and know where everything is," he said.
On Monday 11 local cases were confirmed, a sharp rise from the two announced on Sunday and the biggest daily increase from the previous day's number since September.
More to come.
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