VICTORIA has recorded fifty-seven new locally acquired coronavirus cases – the state’s highest daily tally since the second wave – on its two-hundredth day of lockdown.<\/p>\n
The health department on Thursday confirmed\u00a054 of the cases are linked to known outbreaks, while 44\u00a0were self-isolating throughout their infectious period.<\/p>\n
It leaves three cases under investigation.<\/p>\n
Some 49,607 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, while 27,581 Victorians received a vaccine dose at a state-run hub.<\/p>\n
AAP understands the spike in new cases is a result of day-13 testing for several close contacts associated with outbreaks at schools, including\u00a0Al-Taqwa College and Mt Alexander College.<\/p>\n
Health Minister Martin Foley on Wednesday said there were more than 10,000 close contacts of known COVID-19 cases due for day-13 testing in coming days and it was expected that the case numbers would be large, but most people were in isolation.<\/p>\n
Mr Foley said authorities were more concerned about infections that can’t be linked to known outbreaks.<\/p>\n
St Kilda in particular has emerged as the state’s latest battleground, with six mystery infections, including a sex worker.<\/p>\n
Anyone who lives or works in the area is urged to come forward for testing even if they don’t have symptoms.<\/p>\n
Testing and vaccine efforts have been ramped up around St Kilda, including a drive-through and walk-up testing centre at the Palais Theatre car park and a pop-up vaccine hub at Peanut Farm Reserve.<\/p>\n
A number of exposure sites have been listed in the suburb, including the Salvation Army Crisis Centre and the Sacred Heart Mission Women’s House and Dining Hall.<\/p>\n
Melbourne is two weeks into its sixth lockdown, which was extended on Monday until September 2, bringing the total number of days the city has been under stay-at-home orders to 200.<\/p>\n
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