COVID-19: 10 new local cases as state awaits restriction easing announcement

Victoria recorded 10 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases yesterday.

All of the new local cases are linked to known outbreaks and were in quarantine for their entire infectious period.

All new locally-acquired cases are linked to the current outbreaks, and all were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period. [2/2]

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 26, 2021

The figure comes as Victorians wait to find out how the lockdown restrictions will change at midnight tonight.

Among the changes being considered is a return to classrooms for thousands of students.

Hospitality and retail are expected to reopen with strict patron caps.

Masks are likely to remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors outside the home.

Visitors to the home are not expected to be permitted under the next phase of restriction easing.

Director of Health and Biosecurity at CSIRO, Dr Rob Grenfell, says restricting in-home gatherings makes sense.

“When you go to someone’s home you usually tend to touch them and probably kiss them and all that sort of stuff. The other thing is you actually spend a lot more time with them,” he told Ross and Russel.

The expected easing comes as Victoria has not recorded any new COVID-19 exposure sites since Saturday night.

Most people now testing positive to the virus are household contacts and have been isolating.

There is still a call for people in the suburbs of Werribee, Tarneit and Truganina to get tested if they have any symptoms, after COVID-19 fragments were detected in wastewater.

The warning is also current for people in the suburbs Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale.

Press PLAY below to hear more from Dr Rob Grenfell