Australia Corona Virus

Victoria records 50 local COVID-19 cases amid plea to honour vaccine bookings

Source: ABCnews

Victoria has recorded 50 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, only 11 of whom were in quarantine during their infectious period.

Contact tracers have so far linked 40 of the new cases back to existing outbreaks.

The state processed 48,424 test results on Monday, when 29,810 doses of vaccine were delivered at state-run sites.

There are now more than 660 exposure sites listed across Victoria, including schools in Shepparton and Broadmeadows.

Victorian authorities still believe the state’s outbreak can be brought under control, but are concerned by a growing number of mystery cases.

COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said the outbreak had spread to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula, along with Essendon West, Fitzroy North, Thornbury, Camberwell and Maidstone across Melbourne.

Of the state’s 494 active COVID-19 cases, 212 are aged 19 or below.

Premier Daniel Andrews has ramped up a plea for every Victorian to take up the vaccination option available to them today, emphasising the thousands of vacant appointments available at state-run sites in the next week.

Vaccinations are also being delivered through GP clinics and pharmacies as part of the Commonwealth rollout.LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic

More than $300,000 in fines over Melbourne engagement party

Victoria Police has fined 56 people $5,452 each, over an engagement party in Caulfield North that breached COVID-19 restrictions and led to transmission of the virus.

The event was widely condemned by Premier Daniel Andrews and health officials, after a video from the event showed one of the attendees joking about the breach of health restrictions.

Police said the investigation into the party had finished and all guests had been identified and dealt with.

Officers have also investigated reports that 200 people attended a funeral in Shepparton on August 11 in breach of health directions.

Victoria Police said the event had been investigated and no breach was detected.Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

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