57 new cases recorded as Melbourne marks 200 days of lockdowns

Victoria has recorded 57 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Thursday as melburnians marks an unpleasant milestone of  200 days  in hard lockdown since of the beginning of the pandemic.

It’s a sharp jump from yesterday’s 24 cases and  the highest daily figure figure of the current Delta outbreak so far. It is the highest number of new cases since 70 cases were recorded on September 8 last year during the state’s deadly second wave.

However, in a positive sign, 44 were isolating for their entire infectious period and only three were mystery infections. Thirteen people were out and about in the community for at least some of their infectious period.The Victorian Hwalth department revealed 54 of the 57 new local cases could be linked to existing outbreaks.

It’s now 15 days since the first positive teacher at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina was detected with almost 2500 primary close contacts connected to the school starting 14 days of isolation a day later.

Today’s numbers are off the back of yesterday’s 49,607 coronavirus tests and There are now 296 active cases of coronavirus across Victoria.

Among yesterday's mystery cases is a sex worker linked to the homeless community.

But Health Minister Martin Foley said the woman herself was not homeless but was being supported in housing.

Supermarkets and essential shops across Melbourne and a tram route in St Kilda are among more than 550 exposure sites now listed in Victoria. They include Barkly Square in Brunswick, after a positive case visited on Sunday afternoon, as well as the Woolworths at Altona North for last Friday night.

The sites stretch across Melbourne, including the Ikea at Springvale and an apartment complex at 11 Wingate Avenue, Ascot Vale. Information related to exposure sites available from folowing link

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites