State Victoria Records 16 More Deaths Due to CCP Virus

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at the daily briefing in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 12, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE—Another 16 people have died from COVID-19 in Victoria as the state confirmed 279 more cases on Aug. 16.

Latest deaths include a woman and two men in their 70s, two women and four men in their 80s, four women and three men in their 90s.

The deaths take the total number nationally to 395 and the toll in Victoria to 309.

Eleven were linked to aged care facilities, and there were now 2,075 active infections in aged care, Premier Daniel Andrews said.

The deaths came after just four fatalities were reported on Aug. 15, appearing to confirm the fears of health officials that the Saturday number was a blip in the data.

But the number of new cases continues a downward trend in the seven-day average.

“These numbers are heading in the right direction,” Andrews said.

“But while these numbers are positive I wouldn’t want anyone in Victoria to think we had the luxury of backing off.”

The state’s tally of “mystery” cases increased by 95 since Aug. 15 to 3,478.

Aged Care Home Outbreaks

The premier also confirmed specialist medical teams had entered the Doutta Galla facility at Yarraville with a number of residents moved from the centre.

There were reports 19 residents tested positive for the virus on Aug. 15.

As late as Friday, Doutta Galla reported that no further staff or residents had tested positive but said further testing was underway.

But the premier said there were now 58 cases, including 33 residents and 25 staff, of the virus linked to the Yarraville site.

There were also 72 cases at the Japara Gooonawarra Aged Care Home in Sunbury, including 43 residents.

Andrews previously refused to rule out taking over more COVID-19-ridden private aged care facilities struggling to provide adequate care.

After sending in public hospital nurses to Glenlyn Aged Care in Fitzroy, Florence Aged Care in Altona North and Kalyna Aged Care in Delahey, the Premier on Aug. 15 said the government was ready to take over more sites if needed.

“I can’t rule out that we will add to that list,” he said in Melbourne.

“If we are asked to step in then that is exactly what we do.

“That’s all about making sure residents get the best care.”