Melbourne turns red: Horror map reveals the worst-infected suburbs and how nearly ALL of the city is battling against coronavirus - as even harsher lockdown measures are considered TODAY
- Terrifying new map shows Melbourne's worst-affected COVID-19 postcodes
- Victoria Health has released data of the suburbs with the most active cases
- Data comes as health authorities consider greater restrictions in Melbourne
- These could include a ban on takeaways and shutting businesses and schools
- Victoria recorded its second worst day on Fri, with 627 new cases and 8 deaths
Melbourne's worst-infected suburbs have been revealed in a chilling red zone map of the city, as the coronavirus crisis worsens despite escalating lockdown measures.
The Victorian government released a breakdown of active COVID-19 cases by postcode on Friday afternoon after recording the second highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began - another 627 cases and eight deaths.
As the crisis deepens and experts warn the state has reached a point of no return, health authorities will gather on Saturday to discuss further restrictions.
These could include a ban on takeaway and delivery food, shutting down worksites and department stores and closing schools.
Scroll down for video
The Victorian government released a breakdown of active COVID-19 cases by postcode on Friday afternoon after recording the second highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began - another 627 cases and eight deaths
Health authorities are considering stronger lockdown measures as case numbers surge. There have been clusters forming in aged care facilities like the Epping Gardens aged care facility in Melbourne (pictured)
Postcode data released on Friday offers the most in-depth breakdown of COVID-19 figures across the city yet.
Information was compiled from the home addresses patients gave health authorities when they were diagnosed with the virus.
Across the state there were four postcodes with more than 200 active cases.
The hardest hit postcode, 3029, which includes the suburbs of Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina in Melbourne's south west, has more than 346 active cases.
Truganina is home to Al-Taqwa College, an Islamic school linked to a total of 184 cases.
The school outbreak and a cluster at Melbourne's public housing towers in Alfred Street are linked although it is not known which one started the other.
Postcode 3064 was the second worst affected with 286 active coronavirus cases.
This area includes the suburbs of Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Donnybrook, Kalkallo and Mickleham.
The city of Melbourne is likely to face further lockdown measures than the initial six week period, as COVID-19 cases continue at alarming rates
Coming in third was postcode 3021 with 221 active cases across St Albans, Albanvale, Kealba and Kings Park.
Other postcodes with high numbers of active cases included 3076 for the suburb of Epping where the Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility is located and a total of 146 cases.
Another was Flemington which is linked to an outbreak at a social housing estate, in postcode 3031 where there are 118 active cases.
In Fawkner, where the St Basil's Aged care facility is located, 91 cases have been reported in the 3060 postcode.
While the outbreak at the Australian lamb company abattoir in the suburb of Colac has resulted in case numbers for postcode 3250 soaring to 69.
This is regional Victoria's biggest coronavirus cluster.
A woman walks her dogs in the Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne during week two of the latest lockdown measures
The Australian Defence Force are playing an integral role in compliance and monitoring of known COVID-19 cases across Melbourne
Medical staff are seen preparing to transport people from the St Basil's Home for the Aged Care in Fawkner which has had an outbreak of COVID-19
There is growing speculation that the six-week lockdown imposed on Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will be extended as the number of daily cases continues to grow.
Changes are looming after a shakeup of the state's COVID-19 crisis team ahead of an announcement on Sunday, following talks on Saturday.
Among the new leaders in control of the state's health orders are Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp.
Mr Sutton said any decision to impose harsher restrictions is going to hurt the economy and the community.
'The impact on businesses, the impact on people's livelihoods, on their psychological and emotional wellbeing are all part of those considerations,' he told the Age.
Cleaners are seen at Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility in Epping, Melbourne after an outbreak was detected. The suburb is one of the known hot spots under postcode 3076 which has 146 cases
Paramedics in masks and personal protective equipment wait to transport sick and elderly patients from the St Basil's Home for Aged Care in Fawnker in the 3060 postcode which has 91 active cases
'I've said before, these are impossible decisions in lots of ways. We are balancing harms.'
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said further restrictions will be a devastating blow to an already struggling economy.
'The current restrictions, coupled with the border closures imposed by other jurisdictions, have all but brought the Victorian economy to a standstill,' Mr Guerra told the Herald Sun.
'With the state's unemployment levels forecast to peak at 9 per cent by the end of the year, there is no doubt that more businesses and jobs will be lost if infections are not brought under control and the lockdown is extended.'
People wearing face masks cycle along St Kilda after they were made mandatory this week
Victoria recorded 627 new cases of coronavirus overnight on Friday and eight deaths. The state's total number of active cases is now 10,577.
Health authorities could only trace 77 of the new cases to known outbreaks or complex cases with 550 still under investigation.
Victorian healthcare workers, a liberal senator and a abattoir worker at Cedar Meats were among some of the new cases confirmed on Friday.
Dr Chris Moy, from the Australian Medical Association, said Victoria must act 'now or never' and implement a 'New Zealand' style lockdown to control the deadly second wave.
'There's been finicking around, frankly, trying to sort of slowly add little bits and pieces when what we really need is a complete shutdown of this,' he told Sky News.
'It's now or never we've got to go to level four.'
Victoria recorded its second worst day on record with 627 cases and a further eight deaths on Friday
