By Brendan Rees
Coronavirus infections have remained steady overnight in Casey City which has been identified as a hotspot of the virus.
According to the state’s latest health data, there were currently eight active cases of the virus in Casey – one less than reported in the past 24 hours.
It comes as Victoria notched up its seventh consecutive day of double-digit case growth – with cases rising by 17 to 1864 overnight. Of them, 1712 have recovered, the 23 June figures revealed.
In nearby council areas, Greater Dandenong had recorded four active cases while Cardinia had five.
There have been 233 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria that have been acquired through unknown transmission.
Currently nine people are in hospital, including three patients in intensive care.
The state’s outbreak has prompted Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to say she the State Government was “very concerned about the level of transmission” of six local government areas which had been identified as hotspots – with police ramping up patrols.
This includes Cardinia, Casey, Moreland, Darebin, Hume, and Brimbank where there has been a surge in cases over the most week.
“We have not issued stay at home directions for those hotspots areas but of course we don’t rule anything out,” she said.
“Exactly what format that might take is under active consideration.”
Ms Mikakos said the State Government was “stepping up” testing as “we are very conscious of the challenges we are facing in Victoria at the moment”.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said there was a “continuing and concerning” number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families.
“We have made some great progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus, but we are still seeing new cases in the community,” he said.
