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PATHOLOGY sites are processing more than three times the normal volume of COVID-19 tests as the state cracks down on an outbreak, health authorities have said.
It comes as Victorians queued for hours at testing sites, after many came home from NSW before Victoria closed its border to the northern state in response to an outbreak.
Other news:
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the state's testing capacity had more than doubled in the last few days, in a media release issued on Monday.
He thanked Victorians for their patience during the increased demand.
Professor Sutton said waiting times were reducing, with sites expected to meet increased demand on Monday and beyond.
He said pathology teams were producing 86 per cent of results within 24 hours.
The Department of Health and Human Services was working through 2295 exemption applications for travel to Victoria from NSW for compassionate or medical reasons, the release said.
It said more staff were being deployed to speed up the process.
Earlier
ACTING Premier Jacinta Allan has stayed cautiously optimistic about Victoria's latest battle with COVID-19.
The state has 36 active cases, including four new cases on Monday.
All 24 locally acquired cases are linked to the Black Rock cluster. The final 12 are in hotel quarantine.
Other news:
Ms Allan said people could take comfort from the 24 active locally acquired cases all being linked.
She said the new cases were a strong result for Victoria off the back of a high number of tests.
Testing sites saw 32,468 people on Sunday.
"That figure of 32,400 is a very, very strong figure for any day, let alone being on a Sunday over a holiday period," Ms Allan said.
Ms Allan said contract tracers were dealing with a large amount of information, with 311 primary close contacts being interviewed.
She thanked people for turning out in droves to be tested at the weekend, despite long wait times.
She believes increased capacity at the sites should help with expected high demand for tests on Monday.
Close contacts of known coronavirus cases will be given priority.
Ms Allan thanked building owners and managers who helped provide extra testing sites and everyone who worked at the sites for their efforts.
She said test results were being turned around quickly, with 86 per cent of people receiving their results within 24 hours.
"We're really proud and pleased with these results today," she said. "We always love the zero days but this is a strong day for Victoria.
"It's a positive day, but we've still got a little way to go and we'll work very hard to get back to those zero days.
"We've seen the strength of the virus coming out of the Black Rock cluster but we can have a cause of optimism and take comfort in the numbers coming out of the last couple of days."
The state government also announced on Monday morning that primary producers and agriculture workers who worked between NSW and Victoria could apply for a permit to enter Victoria to work.
The move was effective immediately and would give agriculture workers with the same safeguards as workers in the freight and essential services industries.
Permitted NSW agriculture workers entering Victoria must wear a face mask in all public places, be regularly tested for coronavirus, self-quarantine when not working and only leave their accommodation for takeaway food or drink, bathroom stops, medical care, to obtain a coronavirus test or in an emergency.
Victorian farmers and agriculture workers living outside the border bubble who re-enter the state after working in NSW must self-isolate for 14 days upon their return and get tested for coronavirus twice.
The permit system is consistent with the National Agriculture Workers' Code, endorsed by National Cabinet in September.
Aside from agricultural worker and people who are part of existing border bubble arrangements, only those with an exemption from the Department of Health and Human Services, those with a transit permit from another jurisdiction, Victorians who have completed 14 days' mandatory quarantine in NSW, and people in set categories such as emergency services workers can enter Victoria from NSW.
Agriculture workers can apply for a permit at service.vic.gov.au or call contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 for further information.
Earlier
Victoria's tally of locally acquired COVID-19 cases has risen by three.
A further case, acquired overseas, has also been recorded.
It brings the total number of known active cases in the state to 36.
More than 32,000 test results were received.
More news:
Victoria had 32 known active cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. Fifteen new cases were recorded at the weekend, 13 of which were from local transmission. The other two cases were in hotel quarantine.
Bendigo Health is preparing for further days of heightened COVID-19 testing. Its screening clinics were among the Victorian sites swamped with demand as the state shut its border with New South Wales.
More than 60,000 Victorians returned from New South Wales as the border's closure loomed.
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