Victoria hits doughnut day as it records zero new local COVID cases

Victoria has recorded its first day without a new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in almost a month.

The last time the state recorded a day without a new case was on July 11.

Since then, an outbreak of the Delta strain of the virus infected more than 200 people and sent the state into a 12-day lockdown, its fifth since the pandemic began.

The zero day was detected from 30,117 test results processed on Tuesday.

There are now 99 active cases of coronavirus in the state, including those in hotel quarantine. 

That number is half what it was a week ago, with a peak of 205 active infections on July 28.

The news comes as the state enters its second week out of lockdown.

The current restrictions, which include a ban on home visits and a mask mandate, are set to stay in place until 11:59pm next Tuesday.

Engagement with community needed for vaccines, doctor says

A GP based in Melbourne’s west has said more formal engagement with the community would see more people get immunised.

Commonwealth data shows the west, north-west and south-east of Melbourne have the state’s lowest vaccine coverage.

Just 34.7 per cent of people in the Melbourne — North West area aged over 15 have had one dose of a vaccine, and 15.6 per cent have had two doses.

The area takes in suburbs such as Sunbury, Craigieburn and Broadmeadows, areas with lower median income and a statistically younger population than the national average.

The Melbourne — West and Melbourne — South East areas have similar numbers of vaccination coverage.

Nationally, 40.96 per cent of the over-16 population has had one dose, and 19.23 per cent has had both.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton yesterday acknowledged socio-economic factors affected uptake and more tailored support was needed.

Doctor Catherine Orr, who works for the cohealth community health organisation, said her centres were fully booked for vaccinations because they had gained the community’s trust.

“And so when we come to them and offer them COVID vaccinations, it comes from an organisation that they already have a relationship with that they trust, that they know that we provide honest and transparent healthcare for them,” Dr Orr said.

“And so I think the uptake has been really good.”

There were 17,612 vaccine doses administered in state-run centres on Tuesday, with a similar amount usually delivered by the Commonwealth rollout.

Border bubble with NSW closed overnight

Tough new border rules with New South Wales came into effect overnight, effectively closing the “border bubble” across the Murray River.

Cross-border travel is only be allowed without a permit for six essential reasons. They are:

Much of regional New South Wales has been COVID-free for months, but Victoria’s government has said the measures are necessary until there is a “ring of steel” around Sydney.

A number of border businesses and local councillors have told the ABC they support the push for tighter restrictions on movement from Sydney into the rest of New South Wales.

A hard border around Melbourne was used during the state’s extended second wave lockdown, but the police association has said it was not an effective use of resources.

New South Wales MP for Albury, Justin Clancy, said it was not the answer to the Sydney crisis.

“The language used around the ring of steel is something that the Victorian police association secretary, no less, has come out and said did not do the job in Victoria last year,” he said.

[Click through to send us your questions about COVID-19]