Health authorities feared that the rate of COVID-19 infection had not yet peaked - and today, their concerns are apparently being realised with 428 new cases reported state-wide in the past 24 hours.
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Premier Daniel Andrews announced the number on Friday, with the total of new cases going even further than the previous record of 317, which was set yesterday.
It is the 12th consecutive day of rapid growth, with no immediate sign of the hoped-for plateau that chief health officer Brett Sutton spoke of on Thursday.
DEATHS: There were also three further deaths taking the state's total to 32. There were two men, one in his 80s and one in his 70s, and one woman in her 80s.
In a media conference this morning, Premier Andrews announced that 57 of those new cases were linked to known outbreaks and 370 were under investigation.
I would urge Victorians to come forward even if you have the mildest symptoms
- Premier Andrews
It takes Victoria to 5165 cases in total.
There are now 122 people are in hospitals across Victoria, with 31 in intensive care an increase of 13 from yesterday.
REGIONAL VICTORIA: Premier Daniel Andrews has asked regional Victorians to wear masks in public where social distancing is not possible.
So far no additional testing sites will be set up in south-west Victoria.
Regional testing sites will be set up across regional areas, including Campaspe, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Kooweerup and Mildura.
Regional public health teams will be established, including 10 clinicians at Barwon Health.
There have been 42 coronavirus cases in regional Victoria since July 1, including five additional cases on Friday.
The LGAs of these new cases are not yet known.
Premier Andrews once again encouraged people to get tested - even if they have only mild symptoms.
The new statistics indicate an accelerating level of community transmission. The past fortnight has seen by far the steepest and fastest rise in the number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic measures first came into place.
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The spike on Thursday stood at 317 news cases, which until today was a record number of new positive results in any state in Australia since the pandemic began.
Prior to that, the largest spike was the 288 new cases registered
The breakdown by local government area will be sent out later today.
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said yesterday he hoped the numbers would begin to fall as Stage 3 lockdown measures took effect.
We would really expect a plateau-ing in the next couple of days
- Brett Sutton, chief health officer, Victoria
He insisted earlier in the week that the outbreak remained under control as it has not been increasing exponentially.
Stage 3 "Stay at Home" restrictions remain in force across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. There are only four reasons for people to leave their homes: shopping for food and essential items; care and caregiving; daily exercise; and work and study.
The breakdown by local government area will be sent out later today.
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