1.15pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There are now just two active COVID-19 cases in central Victoria, the latest Department of Health and Human Services data shows.
Both cases are City of Greater Bendigo residents.
The one active case reported in Macedon Ranges Shire on Friday has been removed from the list.
Campaspe Shire also has no active cases and one fewer case overall since Friday.
This reflects the removal of the false positive recorded in Echuca from the tally.
One month ago, on August 12, there were 86 active cases across central Victoria - 53 of them in Greater Bendigo alone.
11.25am
Premier Daniel Andrews says regional Victoria is set to take not one but two steps towards reopening in the coming days, with no new COVID-19 cases recorded overnight.
After Sunday, regional Victoria will take the 'second step' in the reopening plan.
This includes the introduction of 'social bubbles' for single adults living alone, a staged return to education, and gatherings of up to five people from two households outdoors for exercise or recreation.
A review to allow regional Victoria to take the 'third step' will occur when the rolling 14-day average of daily new cases is below five, and there are no new coronavirus cases within an unknown source.
At Saturday's press conference, Mr Andrews said regional Victoria was on track to open up to this level by the middle of next week.
Regional Victoria's 14-day rolling average sat at 4.3, the premier said, and there were no new cases since Friday.
Mr Andrews said the COVID-19 strategy was working.
He also announced businesses providing beauty and personal services would now be permitted to reopen in the third step.
However, they will only be allowed to provide services where the customer can wear a face mask for the entire time.
Melbourne has recorded 37 new cases since Friday.
There have also been six more deaths: two woman and a man in their 80s, and two women and a man in their 90s.
All were linked to aged care.
There are still 1251 active cases across the state, 58 of which are in regional Victoria.
To date, there have been 4296 coronavirus cases with an unknown source, but that is seven fewer than Friday.
There are 126 people in hospital, nine of whom are receiving intensive care and six on ventilators.
Earlier
Thirty-seven new COVID-19 cases have been identified in Victoria in the 24 hours to Saturday, the smallest daily increase since June 26.
Sadly, the Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed another six people have died.
The number of new cases is six fewer than the day before.
An updated breakdown of case numbers will be provided later on Saturday, but on Friday, there were four active cases in central Victoria: two in Greater Bendigo, one in Macedon Ranges Shire and one in Campaspe Shire.
On Friday afternoon the Public Health Unit Bendigo reported a case in Echuca to be a false positive, but it is unclear if this case factors into the data above.
On Friday, the rolling 14-day average of daily new cases across regional Victoria was 4.7.
We have removed our paywall from this story about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists, subscribe here.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
