Up she goes and where it stops nobody knows:
Victoria is experiencing a “concerning” upward trend in coronavirus, with 75 new cases identified overnight.
The total number of cases in Victoria since the pandemic began now stands at 2,099.
“Obviously we are concerned by the increasing number and the upward trend and are monitoring the situation very closely,” Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.
Ms Mikakos said the 75 cases could be broken down into the following categories:
“Many of the cases that have come through today are overwhelmingly concentrated in those priority suburbs,” Ms Mikakos said.
“We’ve got many cases across the inner-northern suburbs and the western suburbs of Melbourne, but not exclusively.
“And it’s important to reiterate to the community that you are not immune from catching coronavirus by virtue of the postcode that you live in.”
Earlier, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria was experiencing a second peak of cases, with double-digit daily case increases for most of the past fortnight.
He said the state was “right on the edge” of being able to manage the peak in cases, which accelerated after restrictions were eased.
A fresh blitz aiming to test 100,000 Victorians over a 10-day period is now underway and Professor Sutton said if the surge did get out of control “it will not be from a lack of effort”.
Professor Sutton also said new advice about the benefits of wearing masks, where social distancing was not possible such as on public transport, was on the way.
“It’s pretty clear wearing a mask might provide a bit more physical distance between you and others as they see you wearing it,” he said.
That puts the second wave near the peak of the first. Some of this will be the testing blitz but it’s clearly loose in the community:
Yesterday’s 74 of 75 cases is the highest amount of locally acquired cases over the entire pandemic in Victoria. Again, assuming none of the ‘under investigation’ category are not overseas (I can’t see how they would be) https://t.co/9ATwNyRClv pic.twitter.com/CkHyStvtfg
— Nick Evershed (@NickEvershed) June 29, 2020
Lockdowns loom.
