Victoria records six new coronavirus cases, two deaths
Victoria has recorded six new cases of coronavirus and two more deaths in the past day.
Today's numbers bring Victoria's rolling 14-day case average to 10.2.
That number needs to be lower than five – and there also needs to be fewer than five mystery cases – for Melbourne to take the next step out of lockdown on October 19.
More than 200 residents of the Victorian town of Kilmore came forward for COVID testing on Tuesday, after the virus spread to the area via a traveller connected to the Chadstone outbreak.
Jeroen Weimar of the Department of Health and Human Services said anyone who visited a Kilmore cafe between last Wednesday and Saturday, where the virus was spread by a visiting Melbourne resident, should get tested and self-isolate immediately, even if they do not have symptoms.
Many had already done so, Mr Weimar said, and he praised the way the Oddfellows Cafe had handled the situation.
"They've done a fantastic job. Their staff member got tested as soon as she fell ill, they kept a really good register of all their customers and we've been in touch with all 177 customers in the last 24 hours to make sure they're okay to make sure they're self-isolating and that they're going to get tested," Mr Weimar told radio station 3AW.
He also defended the state's contact tracing system. "We've got 2500 people doing nothing but chasing the coronavirus around the stat," he said.
"Our local contact tracing team have been all over Kilmore like a rash for the last day and a half.
"They've got hold of all those 177-plus people, they're supporting them that making sure they're getting tested."
The fact that the virus had spread from the Chadstone outbreak to Kilmore showed just how much individual choices can matter, Mr Weimar said.
"This is not about a blame game, this is about saying, we all need to recognise how infectious this thing is," he said.
"This is all about the basics. Wash your hands, wear a mask. Keep social distance, and if you don't feel well, self isolate, and get tested. It's no more complicated than that."