Vic lockdown laws may get tougher yet

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has left the door open for harsher Stage 4 lockdowns if COVID-19 is not contained, with authorities now battling up to five new outbreaks a day.

It comes as Ambulance Victoria and private call centre staff are set to join the 1000 extra Australian Defence Force personnel being deployed to help with the response to the state’s second wave.

Victoria has recorded 177 new cases of coronavirus and just 25 of these were linked to new outbreaks.

The number of cases that may indicate community transmission rose by 79 overnight, more than double the previous recorded for increases in this category. Authorities have traced more infections in Hume than any other municipality, with 222 active cases compared to 217 in Melbourne and 209 in Wyndham.

There are 1612 active cases across the state.

When asked about the possibility of further lockdowns, Mr Andrews on Monday said he could not rule out further movement restrictions.

There are now 144 cases linked to a cluster at Al Taqwa College, 242 to residents of public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington and 32 in a group of public housing towers in Carlton.