10:15am
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REPORTS purporting to detail Victoria's plans to exit lockdown have "no status" according to Premier Daniel Andrews.
A leaked document published on Thursday suggested Melbourne's stage four lockdown would be extended by a fortnight and outlined a range of concessions.
Mr Andrews reiterated the government's earlier statements that this document was a draft and had no status.
OTHER NEWS:
He said he would outline Victoria's roadmap out of restrictions on Sunday. Regional Victoria is likely to have its own roadmap out of restrictions.
Greater Bendigo has reported one new COVID-19 case overnight, Mr Andrews confirmed. He said it brought the number of active cases in the municipality to nine.
A total 126 cases of COVID-19 are active in central Victoria, out of about 2295 active cases across the state.
Nine of the 15 deaths reported on Thursday occurred before Wednesday. Eight were reported from one aged care facility.
A total 337 healthcare workers have active cases of COVID-19.
Mr Andrews said Victoria had to defeat the second wave properly. He said the aim was to ease out of stage four in a steady way, to find a "COVID-normal".
Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said chance played quite a large role when case numbers were low, when asked whether he was concerned by a rise in regional case numbers overnight.
He gave the example of household transmission causing a bump in case numbers.
But Professor Cheng said Victoria wanted to see case numbers continue to fall in regional Victoria, and encouraged people to come forward for testing.
Earlier
CORONAVIRUS infections have risen into triple figures again after consecutive daily increases that have been as low as 71.
Victoria recorded 113 cases of COVID-19 overnight, new Department of Health and Human Services data shows.
Fifteen people died, up from six on Wednesday.
More news:
Greater Bendigo recorded one new COVID-19 diagnosis yesterday.
Active infection numbers remained the same at eight, suggesting someone has recovered or that health authorities have reclassified a case.
Numbers remained steady in much of the wider region.
Active case numbers dropped from seven to five in the Macedon Ranges Shire and there is now no-one with the virus in the Central Goldfields.
Falling case numbers came as new figures laid out the employment crisis many Bendigo residents face.
Young women have borne the brunt of central Victoria's economic fallout, the data showed.
Yet the figures only tell part of the story and neglect underemployment, youth representatives say.
Prime minister Scott Morrison yesterday said Australia's economy was officially in recession.
It is the first since one that then-treasurer Paul Keating described as "the recession we had to have", 30 years ago.
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Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
