The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has released a statement about recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria, highlighting the probability Australia is to experience periodic outbreaks.
The Committee said that at 12:00pm on 21 June, a total of 7,460 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Australia.
“Of the newly confirmed cases in the past seven days, 116 (83 per cent) were reported in Victoria,” the Committee said.
“Twenty-nine of these cases (25 per cent) were acquired overseas and detected in returned travellers in hotel quarantine,” it said.
“The remaining 87 cases are largely associated with community transmission.”
AHPPC said the probability Australia would experience periodic outbreaks was due to the continued growth in confirmed cases in other countries; the number of Australians and Australian permanent residents still overseas who may return; and sporadic community transmission.
“It is critical that we are able to continue to control transmission,” it said.
“The Victorian Government has identified the local government areas (LGAs) of Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin as the focus of current outbreaks of concern.”
The Committee strongly discouraged travel to and from the affected LGA’s until control of community transmission was confirmed.
It reminded the community that following current physical distancing requirements was still essential and it was important for them to isolate and to get tested when they experienced even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms.
