Victoria reported 51 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with 1,483 cases now active in the state.
This is down 80% from this time last month, when the state had 7,869 active cases.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the figures in his daily press briefing where he reported seven new deaths – four linked to aged care settings.
This includes four males in their 70s, two males in their 80s and one male in his 90s.
These new deaths bring the state’s death toll to 701 – almost 90% of Australia’s total 781 deaths.
The major aged care outbreaks include:
- 238 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee (1 new cases since Wednesday)
- 216 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping (1 new case since Wednesday)
- 208 cases linked to St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner (no new cases since Tuesday)
- 164 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer (2 new cases since Wednesday)
- 139 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (no new cases since Friday last week)
- 127 cases linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir (no new cases since Friday last week)
- 124 cases linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North (no new cases since Monday)
- 124 cases have been linked to BlueCross Ruckers Hill Aged Care Facility in Northcote (3 new cases since Wednesday)
- 119 cases linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury (no new cases since Tuesday)
- 118 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg (1 new case since Wednesday)
The Premier confirmed there are 169 Victorians in hospital and 17 in intensive care, with 11 ICU patients currently being assisted by a ventilator.
Light at the end of the tunnel for regional Victoria?
Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng also appeared at the briefing, saying regional Victoria could be free of its current restrictions very soon.
“The average number of cases has come down in metro Melbourne to 70 per day over the last 14 days, with 154 that are unknown source in total over the last 14 days, and in regional, 4.5, as mentioned, and eight of those are unknown source,” he said.
“We’re still looking, obviously, into the last of those cases to work out when the 14 days will be up, but obviously – and I’m sure all my friends in regional Victoria will be holding their breath and making sure that nothing else comes up in the next week or so but we hope that that will be some time later next week.”
