Australia Coronavirus: Victoria Records Deadliest Day With 25 COVID-19 Deaths

Victoria has recorded its deadliest day since the first COVID-19 case in Australia was confirmed in January. The state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the news on Monday.

Victoria DHHS reported 25 deaths in the last 24 hours, from Aug. 16 to 17. This is the highest daily death count so far in the state since the pandemic began. There were also 282 new cases reported.

Data from the Australia Health Department confirms 396 total COVID-19 deaths in the country as of Aug. 16. Of this number, 309 is from Victoria and 52 from New South Wales. Premier Daniel Andrews also noted that the state expects death counts to increase as the number of infections continues to surge.

The increasing coronavirus cases is also linked to outbreaks among healthcare workers and aged care homes, The Guardian noted. There are more than 1,000 healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, while 2,000 active cases are from aged care homes.

“We are currently working through a plan to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and patients, including closing a number of wards to admissions and undertaking thorough contact tracing with patients, family members and staff to alert anyone who has potentially been exposed to the virus,” said Felicity Topp, Peninsula Health chief executive.

“Due to patient confidentiality, and to protect the privacy of our staff, we are unable to provide any further details at this time.”

To curb the spread of the virus, Andrews has urged people to stay at home and get tested as soon as they show any symptoms of COVID-19.

“Given we have so many fewer flu cases in Victoria today, because of social distancing, physical distancing, if you have symptoms, no matter how mild, there is every chance that you have got this.”