New coronavirus cases in Bendigo as state introduces new international quarantine requirements

A DOZEN new coronavirus cases have been recorded in Greater Bendigo.

The 12 new cases bring the total number of active cases in the region to 122.

Data from the Department of Health, released on Sunday, showed new cases in the 3551, 3555, and 3550 postcodes.

There were also two new COVID-19 cases in the Mount Alexander Shire, while the Macedon Ranges had a single new case.

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The Campaspe region also recorded three new cases, but there were zero new infections in the Central Goldfields, Loddon, or Gannawarra shires.

The case data came after the state government announced quarantine changes for international arrivals in light of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

From Sunday, anyone arriving into Victoria who has been in one of nine southern African countries over the past two weeks will be required to undertake 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Anyone already in Victoria who has been to those countries in the past 14 days must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days from the day they entered the state.

All new vaccinated arrivals and unvaccinated children under 12, who arrive in Victoria from any other country must quarantine at home for 72 hours. Unvaccinated arrivals will have to quarantine for 14 days.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the changes would help manage the new COVID-19 variant.

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"It's all about buying us some time to understand the implications of this and what the most appropriate responses are as part of a national coordinated effort," Mr Foley said.

"We're taking these modest, cautious steps.... to keep our Victorian community safe and to ensure that we can continue to stay open."

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said there were still too many unknowns about the Omicron variant.

"What we know about Omicron is really not enough," Professor Sutton said. "There is a lot more that we need to find out.

"The key question is is it more transmissible and how transmissible is it. It certainly seems to have spread very quickly in southern Africa and in the Republic of South Africa in particular.

"It has become the predominant variant in that country already in a very short period of time."

Professor Sutton said health authorities would also look at whether this new variant produced more severe or milder disease than the Delta variant.

There was also a question as to whether the current vaccines would protect people against the new variant, Professor Sutton said.

"It is sensible for us to take this precautionary approach, and hopefully temporary approach, as many other countries around the world have done," he said.

Earlier

ANOTHER 1061 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in Victoria.

Data released from the Department of Health on Sunday showed another four people have died statewide.

A total of 283 people were in hospital with COVID-19, while 44 people were receiving intensive care and 20 patients were on ventilators.

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Another 52,930 tests were performed at state run clinics. About 90 per cent of the state is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

It comes after Greater Bendigo recorded another 18 new coronavirus cases on Saturday.

The new cases brought the total number of active cases in the region to 118.

The Victorian government on Saturday night followed the federal government's lead to introduce travel restrictions for southern African countries as a result of the new Omicron variant.

The countries of concern are South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, The Seychelles, Malawi, and Mozambique.

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From Sunday, anyone arriving into Victoria who has been in one of those countries over the past two weeks will be required to undertake 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Anyone already in Victoria who has been to those countries in the past 14 days must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days from the day they entered the state.

All new vaccinated arrivals and unvaccinated children under 12, who arrive in Victoria from any other country must quarantine at home for 72 hours. Unvaccinated arrivals will have to quarantine for 14 days.

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