By Jessica Micallef
The number of COVID-19 cases across Hume and the Macedon Ranges has increased to 48 across the two municipalities.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), there were 40 cases in Hume as of last Tuesday, up from 37 the previous day.
In the Macedon Ranges, there was one confirmed case last week, bringing the total number of cases to eight across the region.
In Victoria there are more than 1400 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
According to the DHHS, the majority of the new cases last week were from the Cedar Meats processing facility in Brooklyn, with more than 40 cases linked to the site.
Other additional cases included a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and four others identified through a testing blitz.
The state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said last week’s increase should remind Victorians not to become complacent.
“While we have been flattening the curve, our battle against COVID-19 is far from over,” he said.
“Victorian’s have done a remarkable job so far sticking to the coronavirus restrictions and staying home has saved lives.”
Mr Sutton is urging all Victorians who may be experiencing mild cold and flu symptoms to get tested at one of the state’s 43 coronavirus testing clinics.
“We are asking Victorian’s to again play their part and get tested if they have symptoms, because the more tests we do, the more data we have about the prevalence of coronavirus in the community,” he said.
“People with common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of sense of smell – however mild – are encouraged to get tested.”
A coronavirus testing clinic has opened at 29 Timins Street, Sunbury, while testing is also being undertaken in the old ambulance bays at the rear of Kyneton hospital.
