Victoria records another 222 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths – as fears grow infections are not falling fast enough despite draconian lockdown
- Victoria recorded another 222 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday
- There are concerns cases haven’t dropped as steeply as hoped during lockdown
- Melbourne entered stage four on August 2 and regional Victoria is in stage three
Victoria has reported another 222 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths.
The latest figures mark a significant drop in case numbers from a record high of 725 cases on August 6.
But experts claim the figures are not falling fast enough, despite the state’s extreme lockdown measures, which were introduced on July 30.
Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely is concerned the numbers do not represent the hard work of Victorians.
Two young women wearing masks are seen walking along the Williamstown foreshore as part of their daily exercise while in lockdown. Authorities say the lockdown appears to be working in slowing the infection rate
The latest figures mark the deadliest day in Australia’s fight against COVID-19, surpassing the record figures set by Victoria last Wednesday, when 21 people died. This graph illustrates the closing gap between new daily case numbers and daily deaths
Melbourne entered Stage 4 lockdown on August 2 and a curfew was introduced from 8pm until 5am. The rest of the state was subject to Stage 3 restrictions at 11.59pm on August 5.
‘Cases fell quite quickly in the week following August 4, quicker than I expected but then in the last week — which is seven days after stage 4 lockdown — it’s actually slowed and that’s what I find odd,’ he told news.com.au.
‘It’s still going down, which is good, but at this rate of progress we’ll be lucky if we are at less than 50 cases a day by the end of the six-week lockdown.’
Victoria’s case numbers have dropped to less than 300 in recent days, with a further 282 cases confirmed on Monday.
Last week, medical officials expressed hope that the case numbers appeared to be on a slow but steady decline – while also warning the death rates likely hadn’t peaked yet.
Monday was the deadliest day in Australia’s fight against COVID-19 with 25 deaths recorded, surpassing the record figures set by Victoria last Wednesday, when 21 people died.
Melburnians are able to exercise for one hour a day under the strict stage four lockdown orders which are in place to stem the spread of COVID-19. Pictured: People exercising on August 16
More to come