Melbourne man dies from coronavirus as Victoria announces another huge spike in infections with 216 cases recorded overnight - as Premier Daniel Andrews warns the second wave is about to get worse
- Man in his 90's has died as Victoria records 216 new coronavirus infections
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has expressed his condolences for the loss
- The state has now surpassed New South Wales as the new coronaviurs captial
- Despite the surge in new cases health authorities are prepared for the worst
Victoria has suffered another coronavirus death, and 216 new cases overnight.
The man, in his 90s, sadly passed away in hospital overnight bringing the Victorian death toll to 23.
Saturday's figures now make Victoria the new coronavirus capital of Australia with the state's total number of cases eclipsing New South Wales.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference in Melbourne on Saturday
Commuters walk outside the usually bustling Flinders Street station in Melbourne on July 10, as the city re-enters a lockdown after a fresh outbreak of the COVID-19
Victoria has now racked up 3560 confirmed cases slightly ahead of New South Wales at 3474 infections.
30 of today's the new cases are linked to known outbreaks the remaining 186 are under investigation.
There are currently 49 Victorians in hospital due to coronavirus, with 15 in intensive care.
'This is not an ordinary weekend. It is anything but that,' Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters after he expressed his condolences to the family of the latest coronavirus victim.
'You've got to be in your home if you are in the metropolitan, Melbourne or Mitchell Shire.
'This is not an ordinary weekend. It is anything but' Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters
He reiterated that after yesterday's record high 288 cases, it is vital Victorians in the metropolitan Melbourne area and Mitchell Shire follow the stay-at-home orders.
'I want to thank every single Victoria who is doing the right thing for making sure that they are in their home except when they absolutely need to be out and only in accordance with those four (acceptable) reasons.'
Those reasons include essential shopping, work or study, giving or receiving medical care and daily exercise.
The Premier warned anyone who suspects they may have the virus to get tested immediately.
Victoria has suffered another coronavirus death on Saturday, and 216 new cases overnight
A medical worker is pictured performing a COVID-19 test as Melbourne re-enters stage three lockdown restrictions
A normally bustling laneway in Melbourne is pictured virtually empty on July 10
'We have more test sites than we have ever had. We are processing day on day more tests than we have ever processed and that is because Victorians are coming forward and being tested,' he said.
A resident of the Pampas Street Public Housing complex in North Melbourne waves from the front door as the easing of lockdown restrictions is announced
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said authorities are working to make testing as readily available as possible.
'Our ambition is to provide a testing site to everyone within 10km of their home within metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchelle Shire,' she said.
'We know have more than 150 different testing sites available right across Victoria.'
More than 25,000 COVID-19 tests were performed in the state since yesterday bringing the total number of completed tests to 1,000,095.
As fears grow the infection rate could reach over 500 cases per day next week, based on new projections, Ms Mikakos said the state's hospital system is prepared for the worst.
'As a government we have never hesitated to put in the resources that are needed to support our efforts in this pandemic. Our hospitals are well prepared,' she said.
Ms Mikakos said the government has stockpiled essential medical equipment including ventilators and has a further 32 million face masks on hand if needed.
Shoppers in Melbourne are pictured wearing facemasks as testing in the metropolitan are ramps up
A sanitation worker cleans a bench outside the single remaining public housing tower under a lockdownin Melbourne
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