As it happened: Victoria records 217 new cases and another three deaths; Australian death toll rises to 119

The Department of Health and Human Services later confirmed a third death, a woman in her 90s.

“In terms of testing, yesterday we did 28,104 tests, which means we have done 1,278,512 tests,” he said.

“If you don't necessarily need additional supplies then you should not be going out to get those additional supplies. [People] know and understand it's frustrating, is challenging, we’d all rather be in a very different position, but we can't ignore the reality that we face nor can we be finding reasons, inventing reasons to travel a long way from home.

“Victoria Police are out there in force and they will issue fines for people who are making choices that are much more about them than everybody else.”

Cases have now been reported in 32 nursing homes and at least eight clusters of the illness have emerged in hospitals and other healthcare sites.

The new cases come as a group of physicians said 80 per cent of the workforce should be sent home to eliminate community spread of the illness, warning there was no chance current restrictions would clear Victoria of the illness by the time they were due to expire on August 19.

On Friday both Premier Daniel Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said stage four restrictions were being considered with "everything on the table".

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