Coronavirus update for Victoria – 31 August 2021

Victoria was notified of 76 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All were locally acquired cases.

There are 841 active cases in Victoria – 836 locally acquired and five overseas acquired cases.

There are 52 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. 16 cases are in intensive care and 15 cases are on ventilators.

The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 22,071.

Sadly, the Department has today been notified of the death of two Victorians diagnosed with COVID-19 – a female in her 60s from Hume and a female in her 40s from Darebin. They passed away at home.

We send our deepest condolences to the families and communities involved – and we will be working with them to give them the support and guidance they need over the coming days.

We know COVID-19 symptoms can rapidly worsen. If this is happening to you (or someone you know or live with) and help is required, please seek medical care. If it’s an emergency, call Triple Zero.

More information will be available as these matters are investigated. They will be recorded in tomorrow’s COVID-19 numbers.

Vaccines

Yesterday, 32,162 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services yesterday.

The total number of doses administered through these services is 2,415,600.

Everyone between ages 16 to 59 is now eligible to receive Pfizer through both state-run centres and participating GPs.

Bookings can be made on Victoria’s online booking system at Book your vaccine appointment or you can ring the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Outbreaks

Of the 76 local cases, 45 have been linked to current outbreaks and cases:

• 17 are linked to MyCentre Childcare
• 9 are linked to the Shepparton outbreak
• 3 are linked to Millers Junction Shopping Centre Altona North
• 1 is linked to The Learning Sanctuary in Spotswood
• 1 is linked to St Kilda East
• 1 is linked to a legal office in Melbourne’s outer east
• 1 is linked to Al-Taqwa College
• 1 is linked to the retail warehouses in Fisherman’s Bend
• And 11 cases are linked to existing cases without a known acquisition source

36 of all local cases have been in isolation for the duration of their infectious periods.

Cases are located in:

• 2 in Brimbank
• 3 in Darebin
• 1 in Glen Eira
• 1 in Greater Geelong
• 9 in Greater Shepparton
• 7 in Hobsons Bay
• 24 in Hume
• 2 in Maribyrnong
• 1 in Melbourne
• 3 in Melton
• 1 in Monash
• 2 in Moonee Valley
• 8 in Moreland
• 1 on the Mornington Peninsula
• 1 in Whittlesea
• 10 in Wyndham

Of Victoria’s active cases:

• 182 are aged between 0 and 9
• 125 are aged between 10 and 19
• 177 are aged between 20 and 29
• 158 are aged between 30 and 39

There are currently more than 14,400 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria and more than 16,000 secondary close contacts.

At midday today, there were 1000 exposure sites in Victoria.

A recently published exposure site today relates to a suburban street in Glenroy where an emergency services (fire) callout took place. Anyone at this fire or who witnessed it as part of a gathering that formed on the street needs to get tested and stay isolated until they receive a negative result. The Department of Health will engage with local residents on testing options.

Please check the website for all exposure sites and the dates and times of exposure 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 – including smaller apartment or townhouse complexes.

COVID-19 wastewater detections in Victoria

The Department is continuing to identify unexpected detections of COVID-19 fragments in wastewater in metropolitan Melbourne in areas that have not recorded recent positive cases. 

Anyone who lives, works or has visited the below listed suburbs and areas is urged to watch for the slightest symptoms of COVID-19 and to get tested as soon as possible if symptoms develop.

Current areas of concern are:

Metro catchments - residential

• Western suburbs: Tottenham and West Footscray detection with period of interest 23-26 August. Sunshine West – repeat detections with period of interest 22-26 August. South Kingsville and Spotswood – repeat detections with period of interest 17-20 and 22-27 August.
• Southern suburbs: Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Bonbeach, Carrum, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Edithvale, Mordialloc, Patterson Lakes, Seaford – repeat detections in the period of interest 23-27 August.

Metro catchments - industrial

• Sunshine West – 15 repeated detections in the period of interest 8-27 August.   

More information is available at Wastewater testing.

Testing

50,484 tests were processed in Victoria yesterday.

See new and extended testing sites, where to get tested and expected wait times at Where to get tested for COVID-19.

General advice

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste. If you are experiencing symptoms, wear a fitted face mask when you get tested.

For more information call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline at 1800 675 398 or visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria.

Latest statewide numbers (data reported to 11:59pm yesterday):