Victoria records six new COVID cases as lockdown extension looms

Victoria has recorded six new locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours - bringing the outbreak to around 60 cases with an extension to the state’s lockdown expected to be announced later today. The positive test results came from 51,033 COVID tests conducted in the state and there were 20,585 vaccinations administered on Tuesday. Authorities are particularly worried about the infectiousness of the current outbreak and the stranger to stranger transmission which has happened at least three times in the state. It is not yet clear how long the lockdown will be extended but many regional Victorians hope the ‘ring of steel’ could be implemented around metropolitan Melbourne so they do not have to continue under lockdown measures. Federal Trade Minister and Victorian MP Dan Tehan said he hopes the case load in rural Victoria is taken into account when an extension of the lockdown is being considered so that restrictions could potentially be eased in the regions. “I just hope they’re taking all those things into account with their considerations,” he said.

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