Victoria records 2 new local virus cases

The state’s health department confirmed the two new virus cases about 9am, along with four infections in hotel quarantine.There are 64 active coronavirus cases in Victoria, down from 68 on Sunday.The results came from more than 16,932 tests, with 13,764 vaccine doses also administered in the past 24 hours.In another promising sign, health officials confirmed both cases were linked to existing outbreaks.“The two new locally acquired cases are primary close contacts of existing case, with no community exposure during their infectious period,” the health department said.There are now fewer than 2000 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria after more than 6400 contacts were cleared.But there have been concerns among authorities about a drop in testing numbers after just 17,102 were processed in the 24 hours to Sunday morning.More than 50,000 tests were taken each day during the height of the state’s latest lockdown.Victoria’s Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimer said he was becoming “a little bit concerned” that testing numbers were starting to drop.“While we’re still dealing with new cases emerging, I would really encourage people to help us keep those testing numbers up,” he said.“That will give us a good feel that we’re getting a good cross section of people coming forward.”The number of exposure sites in Victoria has fallen from almost 400 last week to 131, with new sites added in Reservoir, Southbank, Docklands, North Melbourne, North Geelong, Thomastown, Thornbury, Craigieburn, Burnside, Hillside, Taylors Hill and Taylors Lakes.A Southbank office building, McDonald’s and a Woolworths supermarket are among the latest additions of Covid-19 exposure sites over the weekend.Victorians have been urged to check the state government’s website for the full and frequently changing list.jack.paynter@news.com.au