An additional case associated with a COVID-positive Corangamite Shire person was confirmed this morning, while health authorities said rapid mobile testing had been operating in the city.
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South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser today revealed a household contact of a COVID-positive Corangamite Shire person had also tested positive.
While there are now three active COVID cases listed in south-west Victoria, including two in Corangamite Shire and one in the Southern Grampians, the COVID-positive individual in the Southern Grampians does not reside in the area and is linked to an infection in Bendigo.
The city's hospital also confirmed 1750 results of 2700 tests conducted over the weekend had all returned negative.
COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar revealed a number of rapid response testing teams had been operating across regional Victoria, including in Warrnambool, to assist with high demand.
"We also continue to run our rapid response testing teams, particularly across regional Victoria and I want to do a shout out to those teams," he said.
"They have not only worked phenomenally hard, as all the teams do, essentially they are a mobile operation that sets up and relocates every few days to new areas where we need additional testing surge.
"Right now we have mobile testing teams operating in Wangaratta, Traralgon, in Warrnambool, Shepparton, Ballarat, Kyneton, Geelong and Bendigo.
"So it is an active program that goes all across our state and my thanks to them for the hard work they do supporting -- supported by local health services and councils to provide that support the local communities."
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It comes as Victoria recorded 705 new, locally-acquired COVID cases and one death on Monday.
About 81 per cent of the new cases recorded were under the age of 50, while 23 per cent were under the age of 20.
There are now 363 Victorians in hospital, 75 in ICU and 56 on a ventilator.
Sadly, a COVID-positive man in his 70s from Darebin died overnight.
Today's figures bring the number of active cases across the state to 8538 and comes off the back of 51,252 test results received.
There were 29,657 vaccines administered in state-run hubs yesterday. Victoria is expected to reach the 80 per cent first dose target tomorrow.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also announced a series of grants for 11 priority Local Government Areas where there are high cases and low vaccination rates, allocated Monday next week.
He said the grants will be used to support additional staff, wages, spaces and hours.
"What it means is for instance, a GP surgery can operate additional hours because they can employ some additional staff," he said.
"I have had a couple of pharmacies put to me that they don't have enough room in their shop but if they had a bit of help, they could rent some space next door or just down the road.
"This is all about additional staff, additional wages, additional space. Just common sense."
The same grant system will be announced for regional Victoria soon.
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