Victoria's hope for achieving COVID-zero again has been thrown into doubt with another 73 local cases of coronavirus recorded today.
Of the new cases, 52 have so far been linked to known outbreaks, with 21 mystery cases under investigation.
Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton today said he was hopeful case numbers would continue to stabilise due to the lockdown, noting the state was still following the aggressive suppression strategy for managing the virus.
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However, he could not say if the state could realistically achieve COVID-zero again with 800 active local cases currently in the state.
When asked if zero cases remained the state's goal, Professor Sutton said: "We have to do what is feasible".
"I can't say. I know that we can do better.
"We are in a better position than we might have been with exponential growth from the beginning of this outbreak.
"It is a huge effort required for the Delta variant."
He said health authorities would not cling on to some "absurd hope" of zero cases if infections continued to increase.
"We are not going to achieve the impossible if it's not possible," Professor Sutton said.
Health Minister Martin Foley said reaching the vaccination target was the "way out" of the pandemic.
"It is the key markers on the National Cabinet plan that will get us all through this and it is the key deliverer of hope and aspiration of recovery and coming out the other side of this pandemic," he said.
At least 24 infections of today's cases were in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period.
Professor Sutton said most of the state's outbreak was "under control", but mystery cases emerging in areas including Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, and Hume were concerning.
"That presents a challenge for all of us in terms of changing the restrictions going forward," he said.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed yesterday the lockdown would be extended indefinitely past Thursday.
Mr Andrews stopped short of announcing how long exactly the lockdown would be extended for, with another update expected later this week.
A small glimmer of hope could be on the table, with the state government reportedly considering easing two small, but key, restrictions.
Reopening playgrounds and allowing year 12 students back into the classroom are both options being discussed by senior government ministers, The Age reports.
Speaking at the press conference today, Western Health nurse Kylie Fisher said she feels "terrified" when people say Victoria should lift restrictions now, despite recording dozens of new cases daily.
She explained that during the second wave last year, she saw the harrowing effects of the COVID-19 first-hand.
"I saw tears, I saw exhaustion, I saw nurses consoling nurses," she said.
"I saw blood across the ridges of their noses and ears for wearing PPE for 12 hours at a time."
Ms Fisher said nurses would come to her "in tears" overwhelmed with the physical and mental toll of treating COVID-19 patients.
Many would be forced to get changed in garages and shower before going home to loved ones after gruelling 12-hour shifts.
"I'm just not sure what the community really knows what it's like," she said.
Meanwhile, vaccine supply is being fast-tracked to the state after priority vaccines for Sydney came to an end as of yesterday.
So far, 34.2 per cent of Victorians have been fully vaccinated, with a "very strong demand" for Pfizer vaccines since bookings opened to younger Victorians.
There are currently no more Pfizer vaccine bookings left for first doses, Mr Foley said.
However, Mr Foley implored people not to "give up" as more would become available over time.
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Victoria's case number breakdown
Victoria's 52 linked cases of COVID-19 include:
- Nine cases linked to the Shepparton outbreak
- Five cases linked to the MyCentre Childcare
- Five cases linked to Al-Taqwa College
- Three cases linked to the City of Hobsons Bay outbreak
- Two cases linked to Glenroy Primary School
- Two cases linked to Sunshine Hospital
- Two cases linked to Chemist Warehouse in Hoppers Crossing
- One case linked to the broader Royal Melbourne Hospital outbreak
- One case linked to St Kilda East
- One case linked to Barkly Square
- One case linked to Caroline Springs Square
- Twenty linked to other cases
'Significant spread' of cases
The number of exposure sites has now blown out to almost 940 with 85 new venues added by Victorian health authorities last night.
The new exposure sites are all listed as Tier Two or casual contact locations, which means anyone who visited them during the listed timeframes are required to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Professor Sutton said health authorities were focused on cracking down on rising infections in the west and north of Melbourne.
However, cases have spread all over Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria, with Shepparton being of greatest concern in the regions.
"A really significant spread of cases still, but a lot of focus in the west and north of metropolitan Melbourne and, of course, Shepparton," he said.
There were two mystery cases reported yesterday in Shepparton, which were now linked.
"All cases in Shepparton are now linked to this outbreak," Professor Sutton said.
Professor Sutton called for anyone who attended SkySalon Hairdressing in Shepparton between August 15 and 19 to come forward for testing.
"We believe there might need to be more people who come forward over those days," he said.
The chief health officer noted there was "no exceptionally high risk" in Traralgon after an exposure site emerged in the regional area at the weekend.
But locals should remain on alert and get tested if they displayed any symptoms.
Other new exposure sites are several supermarkets, petrol stations, an aged care centre in Echuca and an apartment complex in West Melbourne.
