Why Victoria’s health department now has ‘a different kind of job’ in COVID battle

Victoria’s daily COVID-19 case figure has today topped 300 for the first time since August 2020.

The growing figure comes despite strict lockdown rules.

Chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, Professor Catherine Bennett, says it’s “concerning”.

“We had a boost in cases a few days ago and probably what we’re seeing is a push on effect from that,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“The real concern is that we’ve got 217 new cases coming from the community — people with symptoms coming in to test or who have been to some of the exposure sites.”

Professor Bennett says the scale of the outbreak means the role health officials must play has changed.

“We’re in the situation where we’ve got widespread community transmission,” she said.

“We’re trying to keep tabs on it, we’re trying to manage, but it’s a different kind of job for the Health Department.”

The focus is now on slowing the spread, not getting back to zero.

“It’s still not taking off and actually reproductive number has pulled back down … so there is this level of control but we are going to see this rise in cases day-to-day,” Professor Bennett said.

Press PLAY below to hear more on Victoria’s current COVID-19 situation

https://www.3aw.com.au/covid-19-victoria-records-324-new-local-cases/