Victoria has had mixed COVID-19 news, with the death toll passing 700 as new cases had a welcome fall.
The seven fatalities on Sept. 10 took the state toll to 701 and the national figure to 788.
But after Wednesday’s spike of 76 cases, that figure has dropped to 51.
The 14-day average of new cases will be a critical number in the state government’s roadmap out of the second wave.
Melbourne’s average of 74.5 on Sept. 9 and the five for regional Victoria continue to fall.
Premier Daniel Andrews insists his roadmap is the only path out as he continues to cop flak over the plan.
There is no set date yet for when regional restrictions will ease, while Melbourne will remain under a curfew until at least Oct. 26.
The Victorian government said sewage samples at the coastal town of Apollo Bay had revealed signs the virus was circulating, prompting health authorities to increase testing in the area.
But there have been no positive cases in the area since the local sample was taken on Sept. 1.
Wednesday’s statewide test numbers almost doubled to 16,686, up from Tuesday’s 8704.
