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Department of Health Deputy Secretary Kate Matson said Victoria would no longer require secondary close contacts to isolate.
Ms Matson said with Victoria is no longer chasing COVID zero, forcing secondary contacts to isolate was no longer necessary.
"It will also make it easier for household members of primary close contacts to get groceries and work while the primary close contact is isolated away from the rest of the household," she said.
"There is a very important difference between someone who is known to have come into contact with a confirmed case, and then someone who has come into contact with that primary close contact. And the risk is different.
"This just recognises the changing risk and the changing environment that we are in, we are no longer chasing COVID zero in Victoria, and we have 17,000 active cases in Victoria at this point in time."
The authorities are still asking primary close contacts to isolate away from their family inside their home.
A text message will be sent to our 16,000 secondary close contacts this weekend to advise them of this change and release them from quarantine.
Earlier
ANOTHER 1,956 people have been added to the list of those diagnosed with COVID-19 in Victoria.
Sadly, there were five more deaths.
Two new coronavirus cases were recorded in Greater Bendigo yesterday.
Data from the Department of Health released on Friday afternoon showed there were single cases in the 3550 and 3555 postcodes. There are 14 active COVID-19 cases in Greater Bendigo.
The Mount Alexander Shire also recorded one new case in the 3448 postcode, bringing the total number of active cases in that region to 18. It came as DON KR confirmed four of its workers tested positive to COVID-19. Thirty employees are isolating as a result.
There were an additional nine coronavirus cases recorded in the Macedon Ranges Shire on Friday, while zero new cases were recorded in the Gannawarra and Campaspe shires.
The new cases make up part of the 113 coronavirus cases listed in regional Victoria on Friday.
The Mildura Rural City Council area entered a seven-day lockdown at 11.59pm on Friday.
It comes as residents in Greater Shepparton and Moorabool exit lockdown from this morning.
Health authorities said COVID-19 case loads in Mildura have increased this week with nine active cases listed in the region on Friday morning. A further three cases were confirmed late on Friday afternoon, which would be reflected in Saturday's case numbers.
An extra 41,177 got vaccinations in the 24 hours to midnight and a record 73,443 were tested for the virus.
The total number of doses administered through state-run services is 3,859,696.
Read other news: Bendigo armed robbers sentenced after tomahawk attack in city centre
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