Coronavirus numbers remain unchanged in Warrnambool

South West Healthcare has screened another 316 asymptomatic people for coronavirus in the last week, taking total screenings to 8948.

Department of Health and Human Services data has recorded no change in Colac Otway Shire cases, remaining at nine.

It comes after another Australian Lamb Colac worker tested positive to the virus on Tuesday.

More than 100 close contacts of the Geelong-based worker were tested this week and are self-isolating at the direction of DHHS.

Geelong has 71 cases, up from 66, Bendigo has 16 cases and Ballarat at six cases.

There are 15 cases in Moorabool, up two, five in Surf Coast Shire and two in Horsham.

There are zero cases in Moyne Shire, Glenelg Shire, Golden Plains Shire, and Southern Grampians Shire.

14,837 people have recovered from the virus in Victoria.

Earlier, 11.30pm: Another 113 Victorians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 overnight.

Twenty-three more people have died from the virus since Wednesday in Victoria.

It's a drop on Wednesday and Tuesday's number of new cases, which sat about 150 each day.

The number follows 149 new cases on Wednesday, when Victoria saw its second deadliest single day since the start of the pandemic with 24 deaths.

Thursday's deaths include one man in his 60s, one woman and four men in their 70s, six women and three men in their 80s and five women and three men in their 90s.

22 of those 23 are linked to aged care outbreaks.

There are 532 Victorians in hospital, with 29 receiving intensive care and 11 on ventilators.

There are 35 more mystery cases with an unknown source.

Of the state's 3308 active cases, 198 are in regional Victoria, 48 are in disability settings and 1412 are in aged care.

391 healthcare workers are active cases, indicating a further decrease.

"It's good news, we don't want any of our frontline heroes getting sick doing the work they do," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"By playing our part we're not just protecting our family and every family, we're protecting our heroes, those nurses and doctors."

Numbers in key regional communities have increased in Geelong at 71, and remained the same at 16 in Bendigo and six in Ballarat.

"That is a much better position than we were in a few weeks ago," Premier Andrews said.

"But there should be no sense of complacency in any community.

"We've got to continue to do everything we can to keep numbers low."

A workplace blitz has seen seen 916 visits and 78 notices issued since July.

The Premier said the government does not yet have a roadmap of what getting out of stage four looks like, but one would be provided soon.

"This strategy is working and the numbers are coming down," he said.

"The alternative would be to ignore the fact this is transmitted very quickly, if we didn't have these very challenging rules in place would see our hospital system would be overrun

"People every day presenting to hospital with heart attacks, strokes, or who had been in accidents, they would miss out on treatment.

"The strategy is working, we have got to defeat this second wave before we begin opening up or we will see a third wave and would be in even worse circumstances very quickly, that's why we cant open up right now.

"These rules won't be in place a minute longer than they need to be.

"There is in every sense cause for people to feel positive that this strategy is working, we will beat this thing, we will get past this second wave and repair the damage and get Victoria's strength back."

Family Violence Prevention Minister Gabrielle Williams said more Victorians at home has meant the risk of family violence has increased.

She announced the roll-out of five addition orange door sites, including in the Wimmera South West.

"It really is critical people understand if you are experiencing family violence you are entirely permitted to leave and supports are still available if you need it," she said.

"The orange door network brings together services and operates as a coordination point to make it easier for victim survivors to navigate what is an extremely complex system.

"We've acquitted 166 of the recommendations from the Family Violence Royal Commission and the other 61 are underway."

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Meanwhile on Thursday a new data report released today by the Coroners Court of Victoria reveals that the number of suicides in the state this year is consistent with the same period for 2019.

The data contradicts widespread assumptions that the number of suicides has increased due to lockdown.

The report, which presents an analysis of all Victorian suicides from 1 January 2016 to 26 August 2020, shows that there have been 466 suicides this year, compared to 468 suicides this time last year.

Underlying trends across age and gender are also presented in the data, with males three times more likely to die by suicide than females and males aged 2555 years at highest risk.

Today's release marks the first of ongoing monthly public data reports on suicide from the Court, aimed at supporting safe and open conversations about suicide and prevention in the community.

"There is clearly growing awareness and community concern regarding mental health and suicide and everyone should have access to the facts," State Coroner, Judge John Cain said.

"While it is encouraging to see there has not been an increase in suicides to date, our focus is to prevent all suicide deaths and see the figures go down.

"Open, transparent discussions are critical to reducing suicides, but must be handled with care.

"The release of these data reports will enable accurate and safe conversations about suicide in Victoria."

There are plenty of ways to support other people, or be supported if you are feeling anxious or uncertain.

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