Victoria tightens screws on virus

AS THE number of coronavirus cases around the world heads towards 10 million, there is still concern with the dramatic spike of the disease in Victoria in the past fortnight.

A total of 90 cases were reported in Victoria this weekend – 41 new cases on Saturday and 49 yesterday, the highest daily number since April. That contrasts with Western Australia, which had one new case, and NSW with three – all people coming from overseas. Queensland and South Australia had no new cases.

Victoria has stepped up measures to contain the outbreak.

Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced returned travellers would have to be tested twice before being allowed to leave quarantine or they face a further 10 days in quarantine.

But he also announced that the less-invasive saliva testing was starting yesterday.

“I think what’s driven the reticence of some parents to have their often very small children tested is that it is not a pleasant procedure,” Mr Andrews said. “But with the saliva test coming on board ... I think we’ll be able to get the numbers right up to 100 per cent.”

Mr Andrews also flagged that the Government could consider locking down specific suburbs if necessary, but that it wasn’t needed yet.

Federal Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek believes the Andrews’ Government has been doing an “incredible job” managing both the initial outbreak of COVID-19 and the recent resurgence of infections.

“I think people were getting a little bit complacent, reducing their focus on keeping social distance and so on,” she said yesterday.

“It is no surprise as we begin to ease restrictions there will be outbreaks of COVID-19 and what’s really important is that

WITH THE SALIVA TEST COMING ON BOARD ... I THINK WE’LL BE ABLE TO GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT UP TO 100 PER CENT

DANIEL ANDREWS

we jump on these quickly, that we do the contact tracing and testing to keep those outbreaks contained.”

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said there was a real concern about the very significant hot spots in metropolitan Melbourne.

“It is still a nasty disease,” he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to be really back to normal until a vaccine is found.

“We are going to have to live with this disease right across the world.”

There are 7641 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country, where the pandemic has killed 104 people.