More hotspot suburbs face lockdown as state tries to quash outbreaks
Another two Melbourne suburbs could be facing lock down after it was announced 10 others will be bound by strict stay-at-home orders until at least the end of the month.
Flemington and Kensington both fall into the 3031 postcode, which was one of four areas to record the highest number of cases in Victoria this week.
The other three, 3064, 3047 and 3060, have already been identified as coronavirus hotspots, with residents residing in those areas permitted to leave their home for four reasons only.
Victoria was the only state on Friday to record new cases, with 66 new instances of COVID-19 compared to 77 the day before.
Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday he would not rule out locking down more suburbs if numbers proved to increase in areas not already identified as hotspots.
“I can't rule out further restrictions and we certainly can't rule out other postcodes on that formula being pulled into this,” Mr Andrews said.
“I'm not announcing that today, I'm not even foreshadowing, I am simply saying you can't rule that out because we are being driven by the data, and the data obviously changes from day to day.”
Flemington and Kensington border Travancore and Ascot Vale, which fall into the locked down postcode of 3032, which currently has nine active cases of the virus.
They fall into the local government areas of Moonee Valley and Melbourne, which according to Friday’s numbers have 32 active cases each. Hotspot areas and returned travellers however, also are included in those LGAs.
'Shining success': Kim Jong-un's North Korea coronavirus claim
Coronavirus outbreak in Victoria: Disturbing 'super spreader' theory emerges
Health Minister slams traveller with symptoms who journeyed interstate
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said an apparent stabilisation of numbers was a promising sign the state had taken appropriate action.
“The figures are showing some signs of stabilisation but it is too early to confirm,” he said.
“We hope they have, given the level of testing and contact tracing under way but we need to follow up for a few more days.”
Despite public health officials pleas with the public to be tested, there are still more than 10,000 people in Victoria refusing to.
Victoria's government is under pressure after serious breaches were alleged in hotel quarantine and a coronavirus-infected man left his two-week stint without being tested.
NSW recorded six new cases on Saturday after no new cases on Friday. Eight people were confirmed to have virus on Thursday, including a supermarket worker who tested positive after spending two weeks in Melbourne hotel quarantine.
Visitors to the ACT from Melbourne hot spots will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days or return home immediately.
South Australia is maintaining its border restrictions with NSW, the ACT and Victoria, as health authorities closely monitor the situation in Melbourne.
With AAP
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.
