76 new cases and nine deaths in aged care as just over 50% of Victoria’s active cases now linked to aged care outbreaks

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed 76 new cases in his press briefing on Wednesday, a slight increase on the 55 new cases reported on Tuesday.

This brings the state’s total number of cases since the pandemic began to 19,691.

There have been 11 new deaths, with nine linked to aged care facilities. This includes one woman in her 60s, three women and two men in their 80s and three women and two men in their 90s.

The brings Victoria’s death toll to 694.

There are currently 196 people in Victoria in hospital with COVID, including 20 intensive care. Of the ICU patients, 12 are reportedly on ventilators.

The state now has 1,622 active cases, with 829 (or roughly 51%) linked to aged care.

The major aged care outbreaks are:

• 237 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee (5 new cases since Tuesday)
• 215 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping (no new cases since Friday)
• 208 cases linked to St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner (2 new cases since Tuesday)
• 162 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer (no new cases since Friday)
• 139 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (no new cases since Friday)
• 127 cases linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir (no new cases since Friday)
• 124 cases linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North (no new cases since Monday)
• 121 cases have been linked to BlueCross Ruckers Hill Aged Care Facility in Northcote (1 new case since Tuesday)
• 119 cases linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury (no new cases since Tuesday)
• 117 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg (no new cases since Friday)

Regional Victoria “on the cusp” of meeting case number targets

The Premier said numbers from regional Victoria were encouraging, and they may be able to “make some significant announcements” if these targets were met.

“(Regional communities) are playing their part to keep the numbers low so we can meet those trigger points and be able to not simply take one step, but potentially two steps in regional Victoria to open regional Victoria up,” he said.

“That is not for today. There will need to be further days elapse for us to get to that point – but the numbers are encouraging.”