Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdown will not be eased after two fleeting transmission cases were deemed as false positives, the state's acting premier said today.
The cases that were reclassified by health officials has reignited debate on the suspected contagiousness of the variant in question and the lockdown.
It comes as Victoria recorded four new COVID-19 cases overnight.
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Acting Premier James Merlino said there will be no easing of the lockdown and the decision was based on expert health advice.
"Our answer on that hasn't changed and nor should it. It is absolutely based on public health advice and that is assessed day by day, hour by hour," Mr Merlino said.
"The health minister and public health officials will be able to go into further detail, in terms of exactly where we are at today but the proposition put forward by public health was that we needed this further seven-day period for Greater Melbourne to absolutely run this thing to the ground. That remains the case."
Mr Merlino was speaking a press conference before National Cabinet today.
Yesterday two fleeting transmission cases in Victoria were deemed as false positives.
Victoria's Department of Health confirmed a woman who visited a display home and a man who visited Brighton Beach Hotel would no longer be considered positive coronavirus cases after expert analysis.
The reclassifying of the two cases is expected to reignite debate on the lockdown situation and the suspected contagiousness of the variant in question, given the significance of fears it was being spread between strangers.
"These cases will be reclassified and no longer considered confirmed cases. Primary close contacts who are linked only to these cases and not to other exposure sites will be released," the department said in a statement.
"Any exposure sites linked only to these cases will be stood down, including every exposure site in Anglesea."
At least four venues in Anglesea, including the only supermarket, an IGA, were listed as exposure sites this week.Brighton Beach Hotel and the Metricon display home site will remain exposure sites because they are linked to other cases.
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton on Wednesday said the lockdown would be reviewed day-by-day, adding he had "great confidence" the restrictions could ease by the end of next week.
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