Victoria Covid-19 cases dip to 177, but experts warn ‘it may not be our peak’ as aged care clusters grow – The Guardian

Victoria recorded 177 new Covid-19 cases overnight as a significant aged care cluster emerged and the state government launched an online mental health program for young people.
There are now 1,612 active cases in the state with 72 Victorians in hospital and 17 in intensive care.
While there was a lower number of cases reported on Monday than previous days, chief health officer Prof Brett Sutton said it was too soon to say if Victorias lockdowns had successfully reduced infection rates.
[Its] clearly lower than the maximum number that weve had on any one day its great its lower than our peak, Sutton said.
But it may not be our peak yet. So I would like to see a week of decreasing numbers before I come and say I have greater confidence about the direction were going in.
A number of clusters increased significantly overnight, including the Menarock Life aged care facility in Essendon, which grew by 15 cases to 26. It is now the largest Victorian aged care cluster ever.
[Its] a big outbreak, a number of staff and residents have been infected at that outbreak, Sutton said.
Thats been intensively managed, including the transfer of some residents to acute care. It is a reasonably even split between staff and residents it is a concern.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt on Monday said federal authorities were involved in the management of this outbreak.
This is a very important case …

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