The Australian state of Victoria has recorded 532 new coronavirus cases, the highest one-day total in the state since the pandemic began.
A coronavirus testing station at The Royal Melbourne Hospital in Victoria. Photo: AFP
Another six people died with Covid-19, including a woman aged in her 90s, a woman and a man in their 80s, a woman and a man in their 70s and a man in his 50s.
Premier Daniel Andrews said five of the six deaths were connected to outbreaks in aged care.
Victoria now has 4542 active cases, with 683 of those connected to aged care and 400 cases in health workers.
There are 245 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus, including 44 in intensive care units.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the outbreaks in aged care were "a consequence of community transmission".
"They represent a tragedy for the families involved," he said.
"The numbers are disturbing."
There were now:
- 84 cases linked to St Basil's Home for The Aged in Fawkner
- 82 cases linked to in Estia aged care in Ardeer
- 77 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping - a tripling in size since yesterday
- 62 cases linked to Menarock Life aged care in Essendon
- 53 cases linked to Glendale Aged Care in Werribee
- 57 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian homes in Kilsyth
- 50 cases linked to Estia aged care in Heidelberg
The outbreaks include staff as well as residents.
Sutton said residents were "at significant risk of dying".
"Where there are outbreaks in aged care, the mortality is extremely high," he said. "Deaths in aged care made up almost half of deaths in the UK, so these are critical areas."
Andrews said there were "far too many people" going to work while sick.
"You simply can't go to work if you have symptoms. You can't go to work if you feel sick, even mildly," he said.
"This is the biggest driver, it's not the only issue, but it is the biggest driver of transmission."
Andrews said unless people changed their behaviour the state would continue to see new case numbers at "unacceptably high levels".
- ABC