Victoria has recorded 20 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, as regional areas enjoy the first day out of lockdown.
Key points:
- Victorian health officials are weighing up an extension of Melbourne's lockdown beyond Thursday
- The General Achievement Test for year 12 students has been rescheduled due to the risk of a test becoming a superspreading event
- The impact of the pandemic will once again be assessed for every student completing VCE 3-4 units
All of the new cases are linked to the existing outbreak, but only five were in quarantine during their infectious period.
There were 34,892 test results processed on Monday.
The statewide lockdown that began last Thursday night eased overnight for regional Victorians, allowing hospitality venues and schools to reopen.
Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday health officials would be closely watching the next few days of results before deciding if Melbourne's lockdown can lift on Thursday night.
"We need to get down to a very low number of cases if any, that have been out in the community during their infectious period," he said.
Authorities are concerned there are a number of undetected positive cases in Melbourne's north-west, after repeated detections of virus fragments in the wastewater catchment across suburbs including Broadmeadows and Pascoe Vale.
Mr Andrews has urged anyone with the slightest symptoms to get tested and quarantine immediately, highlighting the support payments on offer for casual workers.
There are now more than 240 exposure sites listed in Victoria, including several more stores at CS Square shopping centre in Caroline Springs.
Authorities are highly concerned by a number of transmissions which appear to have occurred in shared spaces at the centre in Melbourne's west.
"So if you were in Caroline Springs shopping centre between the 27th of July and the 5th of August, we need you to go and get tested immediately," COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said on Monday.
The government has made efforts to ramp up vaccinations this week, with nine mass vaccination hubs now offering AstraZeneca to those aged 18-39.
Mr Andrews said more hubs would begin to offer AstraZeneca to the younger cohort in coming weeks as informed consent processes were established.
Year 12 GAT rescheduled in light of Delta outbreak
The outbreak has forced the state government to reschedule the General Achievement Test (GAT) for senior VCE students.
The test, which is used to help provide an additional marker of a VCE student's general academic performance, was due to be held on Thursday.
"With ongoing community transmission still occurring in metropolitan Melbourne, the Department of Health's public health team has recommended the GAT be rescheduled, reducing the risk of a further outbreak with large cohorts of students taking the test together," the government said in a statement.
Students who are in quarantine as positive cases, primary close contacts, and members of schools deemed exposure sites will be exempt from taking the rescheduled test.
ABC News: Peter Healy
)Every student completing VCE Unit 3-4 sequences will have the pandemic's impact on them assessed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, the government said.
"Consistent with the approach in 2020, the process considers a range of data alongside exam results to calculate final VCE results — like the GAT, comparisons of performance across all assessments and schools and other learning data," the statement continued.
"The process will also include assessments of the individual impact of coronavirus on each student including school closures, direct impacts on student health, ongoing issues with remote learning and mental health challenges."
Mornington Peninsula Mayor disappointed over lockdown ruling
Regional Victorians are enjoying their first day under eased restrictions, with schools open again, and hospitality venues able to seat patrons.
However, some areas are disappointed they are not included in the easing of restrictions.
Mornington Peninsula Mayor Despi O'Connor said people in her region would remain in lockdown because the area was considered part of Metropolitan Melbourne.
"Our residents here are really disappointed with that change coming through and them not being included," she said.
"Our small businesses are really suffering down here. They're really feeling the pinch from lockdown number six and and, you know, looking across the bay and seeing Geelong opening up doesn't doesn't help them any."
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Victoria records 20 new local COVID cases as Melbourne sweats on lockdown extension - ABC News
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