Victoria saw its lowest daily increase in over three months, with just five new coronavirus cases reported on Monday.
The last time this figure was this low was June 12, when 4 cases were reported.
The number of active cases in the state continued to drop, down to 359.
This is a 45% reduction on the 657 cases reported this time last week.
The 14-day rolling average for metro Melbourne has also fallen to 20.3, from 22.1 the day before. Regional Victoria’s 14-day average remained steady at 0.6.
Sadly, three more deaths were reported with all of these linked to aged care.
This includes a man in his 60s, a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s.
The state’s death toll has reached 787, with 624 of these linked to aged care.
The major aged care outbreaks include:
- 260 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee (4 new cases since last Friday)
- 220 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping (no new cases since last Friday)
- 140 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (no new cases since Thursday last week)
- 132 cases have been linked to BlueCross Ruckers Hill Aged Care Facility in Northcote (no new cases since last Friday)
- 127 cases linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir (no new cases since last Wednesday)
- 124 cases linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North (no new cases since Monday last week)
- 122 cases linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury (no new cases since Tuesday)
- 121 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg (no new cases since Sunday)
- 109 cases have been linked to Kalyna Aged Care Facility in Delahey (1 new case since Sunday)
- 108 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee (no new cases since Sunday)
There were 49 Victorians in hospital with eight in ICU and four on a ventilator.
Targeted testing for aged care
In his 88th consecutive press conference, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said people in high-risk industries such as aged care would be “strongly encouraged” to join regular testing programs.
Mr Andrews added he didn’t believe staff would have to be tested against their will.
“We will strongly encourage people working in maybe not everybody, but a portion of the workforce, for instance, working in a particular setting, to be part of the testing program, and that serves three purposes,” he said.
“One – you find virus if it's there. Two – you validate that the virus isn’t. And thirdly – so you can lock down, you can support people and have them isolated if they've got it.”