Victoria has recorded 317 new coronavirus cases overnight, the biggest daily increase since the pandemic began, and another two men in their 80s have died from the virus.
Key points:
- Premier Daniel Andrews said it was too early to consider a move to stage four restrictions
- Category three elective surgeries have been paused across Melbourne’s public hospitals
- Professor Brett Sutton said the daily case increases might not plateau for another few days
In announcing the figures, Premier Daniel Andrews said it was “way too early” for the state to be moving to a new stage of restrictions.
“I know there’s been a lot of discussion, a lot written and said about possible stage four [restrictions], there are no announcements to be made about that today,” he said.
“This is in the hands of all Victorians though. If you want to get out of these restrictions as fast as possible we all need to play our part.”
Mr Andrews said despite the increase, there was a “relative stability” in the rate of new infections being recorded.
“We have made the point with these stay-at-home restrictions only a week old, it will take some time to bring stability to the numbers and start to see a pattern where they are driven down,” he said.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria may not yet have hit