Coronavirus case recorded in Greater Bendigo

A Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit spokesperson said the new Bendigo case was not acquired in Bendigo.

"The COVID-19 positive case acquired the infection from elsewhere in the state and is isolating," the spokesperson said. "The primary close contacts associated with this case have been identified and are quarantining.

"Any public exposure sites related to this case will be published on the Department of Health website."

Bendigo Health now has walk-in Astrazeneca appointments available to anyone aged 18 and over.

There will be 50 appointments per day until further notice.

11.55am:

Bendigo has recorded its first coronavirus case in more than 12 months.

COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed the new cases at the daily press briefing on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the Macedon Ranges has also recorded five news cases - four of which are primary close contacts of existing cases and one that is linked to a work place in Melbourne.

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The last time Bendigo had an active case of COVID-19 was September 24, 2020.

Since the start of the pandemic Greater Bendigo has recorded 103 cases.

Mr Weimar said the case was under investigation and more detail would be provided in chief health officer's daily update this afternoon.

The new Bendigo cases comes on the day where Victoria recorded its highest number of cases - 766 since Wednesday - in a 24 hour period.

"It is a challenging number for all of us and redoubles the focus for all of us," Mr Weimar said. "Half of the cases - 55 per cent - are in households (that already have a case)."

Of Victoria's 766 new cases, 21 were in regional Victoria.

Along with Bendigo (1) and the Macedon Ranges (5), regional Victorian cases were recorded in Ballarat (1), Mitchel Shire (8), Mooroobool Shire (4), Mildura (1) and the Surf Coast Shire (1).

More to come.

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