Victoria cases spike as NSW lockdown looms

Victoria cases spike as NSW lockdown looms

Victoria has recorded 374 new coronavirus cases overnight and three elderly women have died from the virus. Of the cases, about 62 are linked to known outbreaks and about 310 are being investigated.

The deaths of the three women, aged in their 80s, 90s and 100s, takes the state's death toll to 42.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said two of the deaths were linked to aged care outbreaks.

As Victoria grapples with nearly  3,000 active cases of COVID-19, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has conceded her state is at a "critical point".

Thirteen new cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in NSW overnight – including 10 cases associated with a cluster from the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park.

Southwest Sydney has been hit hardest in NSW's renewed coronavirus outbreak.

In the Liverpool LGA, there are now 11 active cases in Cecil Hills and Carnes Hill and eight in Chipping Norton and Casula – where the Crossroads Hotel, where a major outbreak is linked, is located.

There are now 50 cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster in south-west Sydney, 26 with the Thai Rock restaurant in Stockland Mall and eight with the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on the South Coast (which has now stabilised).

New hotspots have also emerged closer to the city and on the NSW south coast – while former hotspots, particularly Sydney's eastern suburbs, are yet to report any new cases.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned today the state still had the opportunity to "isolate the cases that we have and to make sure we reduce the incidence of the virus spreading".

The next few weeks are "critical" in getting the outbreak under control, she told reporters.

"If we get through the next three or four weeks the way we have we will be able to have medium to long term surety that NSW can keep moving forward but if we slide backwards that means all of us will need to face situations we shouldn't have to."

NSW authorities are urging people to avoid all non-essential travel amid an increase in coronavirus infections across the state.

Deputy chief health officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said residents must “redouble their efforts” to slow the increasing spread of community transmission of the virus.

“Everyone needs to be aware there has been transmission in venues such as hotels and restaurants, gyms and social gatherings and should exercise particular caution.

“It would be preferable and safer for the time being to avoid all non-essential travel and not host or attend gatherings of more than 10 people at home (not withstanding that the legal limit is 20 people),” he said.

While face masks have become mandatory amid the surge of cases in Melbourne, Ms Berejkilian said it would be a "personal choice" in NSW.

She said "face masks are complementary" to current health advice around social distancing