A concerning series of mysterious Victorian COVID-19 cases and an uptick in 14-day rolling average are a “call to arms”, the state’s chief health officer says.

October 5, 2020

A series of mysterious Victorian COVID-19 cases has the state’s health officials worried following an uptick in the 14-day rolling average.

There were 13 mystery cases with an unknown source in Melbourne in the fortnight to Thursday.

Three of new cases were found in the southeast and west of Melbourne in postcodes 3145, 3023 and 3019.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says a single case of unknown origin might represent 10 or 15 true cases in the community.

“It’s really a call to arms … anyone in those postcodes should be aware that there’s transmission in those postcodes,” he said.

Overall, coronavirus case numbers continue to be low across Victoria, with one fatality and 12 new cases disagnosed in the 24 hours to Sunday morning.

Premier Daniel Andrews reinforced his warning for people to maintain social distancing as they enjoy the outdoors after large groups at beaches and parks flouted virus restrictions in recent days.

“Let’s not any of us do anything to jeopardise where we find ourselves. It is delicately poised,” he said.

“It’s sunny, yes, and people love to go to the beach when it’s sunny but there’s a global pandemic on

“Surely, there’s a greater urge to see this thing, to defeat it and to have a normal summer and have a COVID normal Christmas and 2021.”

Health figures released on Sunday show the 14-day rolling average of daily case diagnoses up to Saturday is 11.9 in Melbourne and 0.2 in regional Victoria.

There are 241 active cases in Victoria, with 91 in aged care facilities and three in regional Victoria.

If Victoria hits a rolling 14-day average below five and a two-week total of below five mystery cases it will move to the third step of reopening by October 19.