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TWO more Macedon Ranges residents have tested positive for COVID-19, after Victoria recorded 357 new cases.
Case numbers have remained stable in the rest of central Victoria.
This is despite soaring demand for testing following a COVID-19 diagnosis in a worker at Castlemaine's Don KR facility.
The new Macedon Ranges diagnoses bring the number of active cases in that shire to 8.
Bendigo's numbers remain stable, with four active COVID-19 cases, and 14 across time.
One case is active in Mount Alexander, and one in Loddon.
Neither Central Goldfields or Campaspe shires have active cases.
Buloke Shire is yet to record any COVID-19 cases.
Health authorities have urged workers at Castlemaine's Don KR meat processing facility to be tested, after a case was diagnosed in a worker on Thursday.
It led to "unprecedented" demand for testing on Friday, and long waits on Saturday.
Test results normally take one to three days for labs to turn around.
Victoria recorded 357 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
It marks a total increase of 339 case, as some of the previous day's cases were removed due to reduplication.
This story was updated on Sunday July 26 to reflect the correct number of active COVID-19 cases in the Macedon Ranges Shire on Saturday, at that stage 8.
1.30pm
HEALTH authorities are watching COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria closely, but not seeing growth in community transmission.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said most postcodes across regional Victoria had only one or two cases, when asked if restrictions were on the cards for these areas.
He said most transmission in regional areas was driven by people continuing to work, shop or socialise while symptomatic.
Earlier
FIVE Victorians have died, and 357 more have been diagnosed with COVID-19, as the government works to fight outbreaks in aged care.
At least 344 of Victoria's COVID-19 cases are linked to aged care settings.
Workers will be required to wear personal protective equipment, and receive infection control training.
OTHER NEWS:
Nearly 230 Victorians are in hospital being treated for COVID-19, 42 in intensive care.
It follows Friday when 300 new cases were reported, and seven Victorians died.
Premier Daniel Andrews reassured families that the government was taking steps to protect those in aged care, saying it was a challenging setting.
The federal government is responsible for the aged care system.
He said this included consolidating shifts, so workers were not moving between multiple sites.
Mr Andrews said the state was working with the commonwealth to conduct asymptomatic testing, and testing in aged care facilities.
He said aged care workers would be further trained in infection control, and personal protective equipment would be absolutely compulsory.
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