One new case yesterday, no new cases today on the Mornington Peninsula. A Somers health expert has added her voice to calls the Mornington Peninsula should be excluded from the Greater Melbourne lockdown area to help beat COVID-19. On the day compulsory mask wearing is announced, we take a light-hearted look at Victoria’s rich heritage of mask wearing.

Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update:

• Victoria has recorded 363 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 5696.
• The overall total has increased by 343, after 20 cases were reclassified – largely due to duplication.
• Within Victoria, 36 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 327 are under investigation. There were no cases in returned travelers in hotel quarantine.
• Three new deaths have been reported since yesterday: two men in their 90s and a woman in her 90s. To date, 38 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

In Victoria at the current time:

• 1028 cases may indicate community transmission
• 2837 cases are currently active in Victoria
• 130 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 28 in intensive care
• 2819 people have recovered from the virus
• Of the total cases, 5233 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 336 are from regional Victoria
• Total cases include 2967 men and 2697 women
• More than 1,305,000 tests have been processed
• Total number of healthcare workers: 418, active cases: 166 (of which the vast majority were acquired in the community)

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‘Close peninsula’ call to stop virus spread

A SOMERS health expert has added her voice to calls the Mornington Peninsula should be excluded from the Greater Melbourne lockdown area to help beat COVID-19.

Read the article here.

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Masks – Part of Victoria’s heritage since 1880

Today’s news of mandatory mask wearing has taken me completely by surprise. Knowing that I’ll be fined $200 for not wearing a mask after Wednesday has made me regret continuing to panic buy toilet paper when everybody else was probably panic buying face masks.

Read the article here.

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If you have any information regarding COVID-19 on the Mornington Peninsula please email us on: covid-19@mpnews.com.au