COVID-19 latest: A quarter of staff in high risk workplaces to be tested every week

One-in-four staff in workplaces at high risk of COVID-19 will be tested every week under an ambitious state government plan.

Employees at 95 workplaces, including supermarkets, abattoirs and cold storage facilities, will be tested, with the plan to be rolled out to other workplaces as the scheme progresses.

Asymptomatic workers who are tested do not have to self-isolate while awaiting results.

The plan comes as Victoria has recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Of the new cases, four are linked to known outbreaks and complex cases, and the other nine are under investigation.

Sadly, another four people have died with the virus, bringing Victoria’s pandemic death toll to 798.

The 14-day rolling averages have dipped in both Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Melbourne’s 14-day-rolling average is now 16.4, while in regional Victoria that number is 0.3.

There are 305 active cases across the state.

There are 44 people in hospital, including six in intensive care. Of those, three are on ventilators.

Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the 17,937 Victorians who were tested for COVID-19 yesterday.

“It’s a very, very strong number,” he said.

“The pleasing thing is that, despite that very strong number, we’ve only got 13 new cases.”

There were 21 cases with an unknown source detected in Melbourne between September 14 and September 27.

NEW CASES IN THE PAST WEEK:
September 23: 15
September 24: 12
September 25: 14
September 26: 12
September 27: 16
September 28: 5
September 29: 10
TODAY: 13

#COVID19VicData: Yesterday there were 13 new cases & the loss of 4 lives reported. Our thoughts are with all affected.
The 14 day rolling average & number of cases with unknown source are down from yesterday as we move toward COVID Normal
Info: https://t.co/eTputEZdhs#COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/Yp216DuE58

— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) September 29, 2020