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Victoria's COVID-19 numbers back in triple-digits as 11 more deaths recorded

Victorias COVID19 numbers back in tripledigits as 11 more deaths recorded
Victoria's COVID-19 numbers back in triple-digits as 11 more deaths recorded  9News
Victoria's daily coronavirus infections remain too high to release a road map out of lockdown, Premier Daniel Andrews has said.

There were 114 new COVID-19 infections recorded today and 11 further deaths, Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed.

The 11 deaths include one man in his 70s, five women and one man in their 80s and three women and a man in their 90s.

Victoria's seven-day trend average is now sitting around 120, down compared to the week before, when it sat around 220.

There are 4226 cases with unknown origin.

There are currently 406 active cases in healthcare workers and 1277 in the state's aged care facilities.

A total of 382 elderly aged care residents have now died of COVID-19, including nine counted in today's figures.

Yesterday's 94 new infections were the state's lowest figures since July 5.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has emphasised double-digit numbers are a key milestone for the state before an easing of coronavirus restrictions can be contemplated.

Sustained levels at or below 50 daily cases has been flagged as a goal figure to reach before stage four restrictions are scheduled to end for Melbourne in two weeks' time on September 13.

"These case numbers are too high for us to open up, and they are still too high for us to put forward a definitive plan," Mr Andrews told this morning's press conference.

"There will be a plan. It will come soon. But it will be one that we can be confident of, not something that potentially gets a few people being happier."

"Once we see these numbers fall further, once we have certainty — and that will be quite soon — we will be able to talk in more definitive terms about what the weeks and months ahead look like."

Warmer weather this weekend brought thousands of locked-down Victorians out of their homes, with many flocking to the beaches along the Surf Coast yesterday.

Dozens were spotted sunbathing at St Kilda beach, prompting the council to close all beaches in the city from 6pm yesterday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he understood why people were flocking to the beach, but urged them to obey coronavirus restrictions.

"Let's not make any choices that put at risk all of the progress we have made and could render all of the sacrifice we have made it meaningless," Mr Andrews said.

"No day at the beach is worth that."

Plan out of lockdown will come 'as soon as possible'

Mr Daniel Andrews has also shrugged off criticism Victorian businesses need more detail about the road out of stage four lockdown.

"I can guarantee that I will provide the most detailed plan I can as soon as possible," he said.

There are two weeks to go before the stage four lockdown is scheduled to end in Melbourne.

"We've got to have a plan that is not just statement of what we hope to be able to deliver — it needs to be a clear plan that we are confident we can actually deliver," the premier siad.

He also said the plan would be science-based.

Public housing residents could be moved permanently

Large families in Melbourne's public social housing towers could be moved permanently, Mr Andrews confirmed.

"In the current climate, knowing that the infectiousness of this thing will not change — it will be with us for a long time — some of those domestic arrangements are probably not conducive to people's health and safety," he said.

The Victorian government is looking at permanently rehousing some public housing tower residents, after dozens were infected during an outbreak across several of the high-rise towers in July. ( Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

"So we're always looking to try and get people into the appropriate housing."

Some larger families would be moved for at least a two-year period, Mr Andrews said.

No date set for Victorian Parliament sittings

The premier is unable to pinpoint when Victoria's parliament will resume normal sittings.

"I can't give you a date," he told reporters today.

"There is a cross-party commission making choices on this with blending of some attendance in person and some virtual."

Discussions and arrangements were underway, he said.

Mr Andrews said his government is engaged in "very productive" conversations with the state's crossbench over a possible extension of Victoria's state of emergency.

"I will let those discussions continue and when we have an outcome I will be only too happy to report it."

Victoria's state of emergency is scheduled to end on September 13.

Victoria 'very prepared' for any third wave

Mr Andrews claimed Victoria is very prepared to fight a third wave of COVID-19, once the state gets the current second wave under control.

"The contact tracing team is bigger than it's ever been and it will remain larger than the task," he said.

"It'll be a long, long fight to keep this contained but I think our staff are equal to it."

Mr Andrews said he did not want to point a finger of blame but said "high risk workplaces" and large family gatherings and socialising had helped provoke the second wave.

He said the coronavirus health teams had made a "whole range of improvements" because of the second wave.

Major sporting events 'incredibly difficult' with restrictions

Melbourne's major cricket, tennis, racing and motorsport events could be "incredibly difficult" to hold, Premier Daniel Andrews has said.

"Unless you comprehensively defeat the second wave and locked into that relatively stable set of rules and do everything we possibly can to avoid this seesawing in and out of rules, in and out of lockdowns, every month or so, then those sorts of major events become incredibly difficult."

The crowd watching last year's Melbourne cup. Premier Daniel Andrews has acknowledges such major sporting events were "incredibly difficult" given coronavirus restrictions. (AAP)

Mr Andrews said he is "confident" the major sporting events can go ahead, but they may "look different".

Defeating the second wave would give the Victorian government and sporting bodies the chance to plan and create options, he added.

Mr Andrews said it was "too soon" to talk about the Melbourne Cup.

COVID-19 threat to approaching bushfire season
Last year's devastating bushfires resulted in 34 deaths and saw tens of thousands flee their homes. (Sitthixay Ditthavong)

"That's why you've got to pull this up now," he said.

He said it would be a huge hindrance if coronavirus was still "smouldering" when the bushfire season began.

International and interstate firefighters would not be stopped coming in to assist Victorian firefighters, Mr Andrews said.

"I'm confident we could put in place quarantine arrangements."

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