Seven new COVID-19 cases in Brimbank

Testing in Keilor. (Joe Mastroianni). 210988_11

Tate Papworth

Brimbank recorded seven new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours.

There are now 82 active cases within the municipality.

It comes on a day where the state recorded a massive spike of 281 new cases.

The spike prompted Premier Daniel Andrews to recommend that all Victorians living in metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire wear face masks in situations where they are leaving their home and physical distancing is not possible.

“The chief health officer has now given us the clear advice that wearing facemasks makes a tangible difference when it comes to reducing the transmission of coronavirus within the community – and that is why we are issuing this new

recommendation,” Mr Andrews said.

“Staying at home if you feel unwell is still the best way to slow the spread of coronavirus but wearing a cloth mask provides an additional physical barrier, adding one more layer of protection for you and those around you.”

The state government will now order over two million reusable masks and one million more single-use masks in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.

The government says studies have recently shown that, even when factoring in imperfections and human error, wearing face masks can reduce transmission of the virus by around 60 per cent.