Home

Coronavirus crisis: Victorian COVID woes continue with 779 new cases

Staff reporters with AAPThe West Australian
CommentsComments
Health workers are seen speaking at the COVID testing centre next to the Palais Theatre at St Kilda.
Camera IconHealth workers are seen speaking at the COVID testing centre next to the Palais Theatre at St Kilda. Credit: NCA/NCA

Victoria has recorded a slight dip in COVID cases after yesterday’s record high of 847, but two people are sadly reported to have lost their lives to the virus.

NSW has reported 961 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths, none of whom were fully vaccinated.

Most of NSW is locked down and police are cracking down on compliance measures as authorities battle to contain the spread of the virulent Delta strain.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The ACT has recorded 25 new coronavirus cases, most of which were linked to outstanding known infections.

However, only three were in quarantine during the entire infectious period.

It’s good news for WA, however, as the State records zero new cases overnight.

Victoria records 779 cases, two deaths

Victoria has recorded 779 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections and two further deaths as a result of the virus.

The State now has more than 8000 active cases.

Some 34,280 vaccine doses were administered across Victoria in the 24 hours to Saturday evening.

More than 46,000 virus tests were conducted in the same period.

Meanwhile, the city of Geelong is poised to learn its lockdown fate.

Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed on Saturday restrictions would ease on the state’s Surf Coast from midnight on Sunday, while Greater Geelong and Mitchell Shire remained under review.

All three regions were plunged into lockdown a week ago after positive coronavirus cases emerged.

Victoria recorded 847 new locally acquired virus cases across the State on Saturday — its highest daily tally — and another death.

Of 7611 active cases tallied up to Friday evening, 321 were in hospital with 65 in intensive care and 45 on ventilators.

COVID-19 hospital patient numbers jumped 55 per cent over the past week and 124 per cent across the past fortnight.

To boost hospital capacity, Mr Foley said the government was discussing multiple options.

“Elective surgery, particularly non-urgent election surgery, is clearly on the table to pause and to delay,” he said.

“As is equally partnering with the private sector to make sure that other urgent work that would be done in the public sector can be done in the private sector.”

COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar estimates about 45 per cent of Victorians catching the virus in homes are socially interacting with other households when they shouldn’t be.

That pattern had health authorities spooked that some would defy stay-at-home orders for Saturday night’s AFL decider between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, police snuffed out a sixth day of anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protests in Melbourne on Saturday, dispersing and arresting would-be demonstrators in St Kilda.

Organisers on an encrypted messaging platform have made vague plans for more protests on Sunday.

The new cases push the number of NSW coronavirus cases to more than 58,000 since the start of the pandemic.
Camera IconThe new cases push the number of NSW coronavirus cases to more than 58,000 since the start of the pandemic. Credit: NCA/NCA

NSW records 961 new local COVID-19 cases

NSW has reported 961 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and nine deaths, none of whom were fully vaccinated.

Most of NSW is locked down and police are cracking down on compliance measures as authorities battle to contain the spread of the virulent Delta strain.

Of the deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, one person was in their 40s, two in their 60s, two in their 70s and four in their 80s.

It takes the toll for the current outbreak to 297.

There are currently 1146 COVID-19 cases in hospital in NSW, with 222 people in intensive care and 117 on ventilators.

It comes after data published by NSW Health in recent days shows contact tracers are interviewing positive cases more quickly.

There were 8226 cases in the week ending September 20, 1326 fewer than the week before.

The number of people infected on average by each positive case in that week - known as the average growth factor - dipped to 0.98, falling below one for the first time since the current outbreak began in mid-June.

Greater Sydney has now been in lockdown for more than 13 weeks, with some fun-starved residents given marching orders after large crowds gathered at beaches in Bondi and Manly on Friday night.

Police issued three fines for public health order breaches and a number of a move-on directions as they dispersed revellers.

ACT records 25 new coronavirus cases

The ACT has recorded 25 new coronavirus cases, most of which were linked to outstanding known infections.

However, only three were in quarantine during the entire infectious period, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told reporters on Sunday.

She said said there was positive news on the outbreak at the Canberra Hospital where no new positive cases were identified.

“More than 200 hundred negative tests have so far been returned from both staff and patients,” she said.

“I was advised this morning that all staff tests have now been returned and have come back negative. There will be more testing today, and the situation is being closely monitored.

Two virus cases had been reported last week in patients sharing a room at the hospital.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Saturday that as regional NSW health services began feeling the burden of caseloads, some COVID-19 patients were being sent to ACT hospitals for treatment, a trend he expected to continue.

COVID CASE NUMBERS

  • NSW: 961 new cases, 9 deaths
  • VIC: 779 new cases, 2 deaths
  • ACT: 25 new cases
  • QLD: 0 new cases
  • WA: 0 new cases

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails