Coronavirus update for Victoria – Thursday 22 July 2021

Victoria was notified of 28 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

Twenty-six are locally acquired cases linked to the recent interstate incursions of COVID-19.

There were two new cases reported in recently returned international travellers in hotel quarantine – a man aged in his 30s and a woman aged in her 20s.

There were 146 active cases in Victoria – 133 locally acquired and 13 overseas acquired cases.

There were five COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria yesterday. One case is in intensive care.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,865.

Update: Current restrictions

For current restrictions, see the Victorian Government’s statement, Extended lockdown and stronger borders to keep us safe.

Outbreaks

Of the 26 new locally acquired cases, all have been linked to the current outbreaks.

Twenty-four of the 26 cases were in isolation throughout the entirety of their infectious period.

One case initially tested negative as a Tier 2 contact at AAMI Park, was released from isolation and spent one day in the community before being re-classified as a Tier one close contact. Prahran Market and the nearby Market Lane Coffee have been listed as Tier 1 exposure sites. When contacted by the Department, he immediately isolated and got tested again. The other case is linked to the Trinity Grammar outbreak and stopped briefly at a petrol station in Heyfield on their return to place of residence after being notified of the need to isolate. The petrol station is now listed as a Tier 2 exposure site.

There have been a total of 133 cases in Victoria in the 10 days of this outbreak.

Of the 26 new community cases reported today:

  • Seven are linked to Trinity Grammar.
  • Six are linked to Ms Frankie in Cremorne.
  • Five are linked to St Patrick’s Primary School in Murrumbeena.
  • Two are linked to the Phillip Island community outbreak.
  • Two are linked to the Mildura community outbreak.
  • Two are linked to the City of Hume outbreak.
  • One is linked to AAMI Park.
  • One is linked to the Melbourne Cricket Ground outbreak.

More than 19,000 primary close contacts have been identified by the Department.

There are a large number of people in isolation from AAMI Park and the MCG exposures sites. Many of the MCG primary close contacts will undergo day 13 testing tomorrow and will then go through clearance processes with the department when they return negative test results.

Exposure sites are published at Case alerts – public exposure sites.

The Department regularly manages exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, or if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact tracing measures, or if they identify small, private locations.

We continue to ask every Victorian to check exposure sites regularly, as they are subject to change based on follow-up interviews and further investigation.

Update: Border Permit pause and zone change for South Australia

The Chief Health Officer has introduced a temporary pause to the issuing of Red Zone Permits.

Victorian residents in red zones can currently only enter Victoria with an exemption, exception or another valid permit, such as a Specified Worker Permit.

Exemptions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

If people enter Victoria from New South Wales without an exemption, they will be put on a return flight or placed in 14 days mandatory quarantine in the COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) program.

See the Victorian Government’s statement, Extended lockdown and stronger borders to keep us safe.

See more about Victoria’s travel permit system at Victorian travel permit system.

From 11.59pm last night, South Australia became a red zone.

South Australia is declared as an orange zone from that date retrospectively to 12 July.

Public health engagement teams, supported by Defence personnel, continue to visit people currently in isolation after returning to Victoria on red zone permits. Yesterday the teams made 436 visits with the vast majority of close contacts isolating properly.

Update: Testing

In another strong day for testing, 43,674 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.

In response to the current cases in Victoria, extended operating hours have been introduced at multiple testing sites.

See new and extended testing sites and where to get tested at Where to get tested.

Update: Vaccinations

Yesterday, 14,230 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services.

The total number of doses administered through these services is 1,453,158.

Victoria’s online booking system is now live at Book your vaccine appointment

/Public Release. View in full here.