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Benalla still on three COVID-19 cases but it is important to not become complacent
Tuesday's Department of Health and Human Services figures confirm that Benalla Rural City still only has three confirmed COVID-19 cases and that the rate of new cases across the state continues to decrease.
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Across the region Greater Shepparton has remained on nine cases, and Mansfield has remained on three, since Tuesday, April 7.
Strathbogie Shire and Wangaratta have not seen an increase since April 3 and have two cases each.
We continue to see a flattening of the curve in Victoria with cases across the state going up by 13 between Sunday and Monday.
While numbers are still increasing, those increases are less and less each day.
And while we might be doing well in Benalla at the moment, it is vitally important that we do not become complacent.
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One of the best pieces of advice out there is to simply assume everyone has COVID-19.
Keep social distancing. Keep one-and-a-half meters from people.
Keep coughing into your elbow, and before you leave the house ask yourself if you really need to go out.
There are still valid reasons for going out, and if you need to, there is no issue if you follow COVID-19 advice.
And getting a bit of exercise and seeing some people is great for our mental health.
But we have to strike the right balance.
Right now the best thing for the Benalla Rural City community is to keep confirmed cases to a minimum.
We have the ability to play our part in that by following simple rules such as regularly washing our hands.
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The total number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria is 1291.
There were no new deaths reported on Monday. To date, 14 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
The total number of cases is made up of 672 men and 619 women, with people aged from babies to their early 90s.
At the present time, there are 122 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission.
Forty people are in hospital, including 15 patients in intensive care and 1118 people have recovered. More than 71 000 Victorians have been tested to date.
Of the total 1291 cases, 82 per cent are in metropolitan Melbourne and 18 per cent are in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation.
The Department of Health and Human Services said there were only four reasons for Victorians to leave their home: food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise, and work or education.
Police across the state have been imposing on-the-sport fines of up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9913 for businesses.
Under the State of Emergency people who do not comply could also be taken to court and receive a fine of up to $20 000. Companies face fines of up to $100 000.
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Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton has urged Victorians to remain vigilant and not erode the gains made in preventing the spread of the virus.
“Now is not the time for complacency,” Professor Sutton said.
“We still have a long way to go.
“While we are starting to see some improvement in the rate of transmission, that rate could climb quickly if we lose focus.
“We thank those Victorians who overwhelmingly are doing the right thing by staying at home, but we must keep at it to save lives.
“Everyone who’s unwell must isolate themselves and everyone who’s been told they’re in quarantine either as a returned traveller or close contact must do so.
“Physical distancing will save lives.
“Everyone needs to comply with restrictions in place to keep yourself, your loved ones and the whole community safe.
“Our message is clear: if you can stay home, you must stay home.
“Stay at home, protect the health system, and save lives.”
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● DHHS has a hotline for public information on COVID-19 which is 1800 675 398. Further information is available at this link.
● Current testing criteria is available at this link.
Current cases by Local Government area:
Local Government AreaCasesSTONNINGTON88BANYULE79GREATER GEELONG62MELBOURNE62BOROONDARA60MORNINGTON PENINSULA55CASEY49MORELAND49GLEN EIRA47PORT PHILLIP46MONASH43FRANKSTON36MOONEE VALLEY36HUME34BRIMBANK32DAREBIN32BAYSIDE29MANNINGHAM28WYNDHAM27YARRA23KINGSTON22NILLUMBIK22WHITEHORSE22WHITTLESEA22YARRA RANGES21MELTON18GREATER DANDENONG16HOBSONS BAY13KNOX12UNKNOWN12CARDINIA11MOIRA11BALLARAT10MARIBYRNONG10MAROONDAH10SURF COAST10WELLINGTON10GREATER BENDIGO9GREATER SHEPPARTON9MITCHELL9LATROBE6MOUNT ALEXANDER6BAW BAW5MACEDON RANGES5MILDURA5SOUTH GIPPSLAND5WARRNAMBOOL5BASS COAST4BENALLA3HORSHAM3LODDON3MANSFIELD3NORTHERN GRAMPIANS3SWAN HILL3CAMPASPE2HEPBURN2SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS2STRATHBOGIE2WANGARATTA2ARARAT1CENTRAL GOLDFIELDS1CORANGAMITE1EAST GIPPSLAND1GANNAWARRA1GOLDEN PLAINS1MOORABOOL1MOYNE1MURRINDINDI1WEST WIMMERA1WODONGA1YARRIAMBIACK1
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