Warrnambool coronavirus case numbers grow

DHHS figures say there have been 13 total cases in Warrnambool, an increase from 11 yesterday and seven the day before.

A month ago Warrnambool had five total cases

Questions have been put to DHHS and South West Healthcare for further information.

There remains one active case in Moyne.

Glenelg Shire has had no new increases, remaining at five.

Numbers in Colac Otway Shire continue to fall at 39.

There are 159 cases in Greater Geelong, 44 in Bendigo, 24 in Ballarat, four in Moorabool, five in Surf Coast Shire, three in Golden Plains and three in Horsham.

On Monday there were 155 cases in Greater Geelong, 42 in Colac Otway Shire, five in Glenelg Shire, 47 in Bendigo, 28 in Ballarat, eight in Moorabool, four in Golden Plains, three in Horsham and one in Moyne.

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Earlier, 12.15pm: Victoria has recorded 222 new cases of coronavirus and 17 deaths over the last 24 hours.

There have been 351 total deaths in Victoria and over the last 24 hours including one man in his 60s, one woman in her 70s, two women and four men in their 80s and four women and four men in their 90s.

13 were linked to aged care outbreaks.

There are 665 Victorians in hospital, 45 are in ICU and 32 are on ventilators.

There have been more than 17,000 tests conducted since yesterday, bringing testing to over 1.92 million.

There are 43 more mystery cases with an unknown source.

Of the active cases in the state 1036 are healthcare workers and 2024 are in aged care.

Regional active cases have dropped to 422, with 159 in Geelong, 44 in Bendigo and 24 in Ballarat.

"They're relatively stable but aggregate cases in regional Victoria are down the best part of 90 cases in the last four or five days," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

He said in the last seven days there were around 155,000 tests processed, 30,000 less than the week before.

"Looking at test results and the amount of movement curtailed it's not surprising that total test numbers are down," he said.

"We don't want to see tests going down because we won't have a complete picture of what's going on.

"My principal ask of Victorians today is if you've got any symptoms, please come forward get tested. Don't wait to get worse, that can be the time you're very infectious.

"More results are much better than less."

He said the NSW government was expected to make an announcement on farmer permits between the Victorian and New South Wales border.

"There will be some conditions and there will be some distance limits but primary producers will be able to move more freely while protecting public health and keeping supermarket shelved stocked," Mr Andrews said.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said it was encouraging to see regional numbers moving downward.

"We shouldn't hang everything on a single day result but the number of active cases in aged care is trending down and overall active cases are coming down but 7284 is still a significant number," he said.

"We expect those to come down this week and hope we're in the 100s not 200s next week but that all depends on everyone doing the right thing."

Mr Sutton said having even the mildest symptoms was a reason to be tested.

"I'm concerned about people who might not be so unwell as to see a GP or present to hospital, who might just have the beginning of a runny nose, or a tickley throat or the beginnings of a cough," he said.

"It doesn't have to be severe fevers it can be just the beginnings of a cough.

"Please get tested if you have symptoms that are other than usual - a change in smell or taste, and even a headache and pains can be a sign of coronavirus."

Moyne Health chief executive Jackie Kelly said the hospital had "escalated" its testing following an increase in COVID-19 cases in the region.

"Based on numbers that have increased we will continue on daily testing," Ms Kelly said.

"It's a drive through testing clinic, at Villiers Street Port Fairy, open 11am to 2pm. We will have it open every day this week."

Official Department of Health and Human Services data shows one case in Moyne Shire.

The figures will be updated on Tuesday afternoon.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and keep the community up to date," Ms Kelly said.

Warrnambool Lyndoch Living aged care home has announced it will close to all visitors for 14 days after five active coronavirus cases were recorded in Warrnambool.

Chief executive Doreen Power said while Lyndoch Living remains COVID-19 free, the priority is to protect the health and wellbeing of residents, clients, staff, and the broader community.

"As previously communicated, if transmissions within the community reached two or above, we would activate further visitor restrictions," she said.

"We are now implementing the following visitor restrictions to all our facilities, effective immediately: a precautionary closure to all visitors for the next 14 days, apart from those deemed as providing essential care, such as supporting responsive behaviours and compassionate care.

"Our staff are happy to assist in connecting you with your loved one via phone, FaceTime or window visits.

"Our home care and community programs will also be restricted to high priority clients only, with the requirement of additional PPE precautions."

South West Healthcare has halted its intake of Melbourne medical students doing placements in the south-west.

Chief executive Craig Fraser said the organisation is not taking students of any discipline from Melbourne or Mitchell Shire stage four lockdown areas.

"The Deakin Medical students who commenced at the beginning of the year are resident in Warrnambool and are required to remain in Warrnambool," he said.

"A group of six students from ACU commences this week. They are ACU nursing students in their final third year and will be with us for three weeks. None are from Melbourne or Mitchell Shire. They hail from regional south-west Victoria."

SWH is requiring students to be tested at a local testing centre and self-isolate locally prior to commencement.

A negative result is required prior to being permitted onsite.

"Final-year nursing students are an important workforce pipeline, potentially our graduate employees by the end of the year," Mr Fraser said.

"The students have a comprehensive orientation, including full instruction on infection control and PPE.

"No student is permitted in any clinical area which is known to have patients with COVID or suspected of having COVID, nor in our emergency department or aged care.

"A SWH team of clinical support nurse educators supervises their placement and works closely with their education providers, in strict accordance with DHHS guidelines, to employ a range of practices to minimise face-to-face contact with staff and patients."

Warrnambool Medical Clinic is now offering asymptomatic (symptom free only) testing.

Appointments can be made by phoning 5562 2766.

If you have any other symptoms, no matter how small, you can make an appointment online at the Great South Coast Respiratory Clinic to be tested.

Ensure you self-isolate during this period until you receive a negative result.

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