Virus curve is bending
PREMIER PRAISES SHEPP AS CASES FALL
The Greater Shepparton community has started to bend the curve of active COVID-19 cases with the results of more than 6000 day 13 tests not producing a significant spike in new cases.
On Saturday, August 4, despite recording four new cases, the number of active cases declined by 14 as people start to recover.
Yesterday, there were six new cases and the number of active cases increased by one to 113.
That trend is expected to continue this week, leading Premier Daniel Andrews to praise the incredible community effort to isolate and contain the spread of the Delta variant.
Mr Andrews said having so many people in quarantine was difficult and he added that State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed and Emergency Management Victoria had played critical roles in making sure people were supported.
‘‘It is a very resilient community but sometimes things become overwhelming, and it is very important there is appropriate support and that is what we have done and she is a great support,’’ he said.
A total of 36,700 tests have been done since the outbreak started on August 20, equivalent to more than half the population of the municipality.
‘‘In Shepparton demand is starting to wind down,’’ Mr Andrews said.
Testing sites in Shepparton were virtually empty yesterday, a stark contrast from a week ago when community members not in quarantine answered the call to come forward for testing.
GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp said the trend was a positive one for the whole community.
‘‘It just speaks volumes I think to people who have done the right thing during their quarantine period and stayed at home, no matter how difficult that has been,’’ he said. ‘‘It has really paid dividends in terms of where we are placed now.’’
Mr Andrews said the plan was still to look at easing restrictions across regions Victoria, but Shepparton will lag behind.
‘‘We will be back this week to talk hopefully in positive terms about regional Victoria.
‘‘The number of cases in regional Victoria is very, very low, save and except for Shepparton right at the moment, but we would hope to have the lockdown off in regional Victoria as soon as possible.’’