Victoria has recorded three new local cases of COVID-19 as lockdown measures are extended for another seven days in Melbourne.
The new cases bring the outbreak total to 63.
A record number of people came forward for testing yesterday, with more than 57,500 results received.
https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1400221258894266369The low case numbers today are positive news, with an infectious disease expert suggesting Melbourne's lockdown could end early if coronavirus cases remain low and no mystery cases emerge.
Speaking to Today, Professor Peter Collignon said the state needed to be more optimistic about its COVID-19 landscape, as contact tracing seemed to be "doing very well".
READ MORE: Victoria's new lockdown extension rules explained
"Most of the people they're finding are already in isolation or quarantine," he said.
"The numbers are staying the same or going down a bit.
"Yes, there are still things we need to know. Yes, there may be cases in the community we haven't found. But so far the numbers are doing what you normally would expect if you've got case finding, good cooperation with the public, lots of testing."
Melburnians will still only have five reasons to leave home from 11.59pm - the original proposed end date of the lockdown - including shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and education, care and caregiving, exercise (for up to two hours and with one other person), and getting vaccinated/tested.
However, the travel radius will be increased to 10km and Year 11 and 12 students will be able to return to face-to-face learning.
Lockdown restrictions will lift in regional Victoria, with retail settings to open, including hairdressers, beauty salons and the hospitality sector. But private household gatherings will not be permitted.
All students in regional Victoria will return to classrooms from tomorrow. Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible.
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton yesterday said the lockdown would be reviewed day-by-day and he had "great confidence" the restrictions could ease by the end of next week.
READ MORE: Why is it always Victoria?
Professor Collignon said it was normal for case numbers to be relatively higher earlier in the outbreak before they begin to taper off and decrease.
"I hope we see decreasing numbers over the next week," he said.
"It is possible it may not go for seven days, depending if no community cases are found that are unlinked or mystery cases because they're a real concern."
Arcare Maidstone Aged Care recorded their fifth positive case yesterday, an 89-year-old man who remains in hospital this morning.
He is the facility's second residential infection and is the cousin of the first case.
The 'Kappa' variant of the virus was behaving similar to other strains, despite it being described as a "beast" by health officials, Professor Collignon said.
"There's some unanswered questions still but, overall, it's behaving like most clusters we've had, most outbreaks," he said.
"It looks like it's coming under control. It's not under control yet, but all the indications are good."
https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1400055825800962049Premier Daniel Andrews, who is on medical leave due to a back injury, last night broke his silence on the tough lockdown measures, urging Victorians to "keep fighting".
"Just because we've had to do this before, doesn't mean it's easy to do again. Some of us will be tired. Some stressed. Some sick to the back teeth of this pandemic. Maybe a mix of all three," he said on Twitter.
"Please know that every individual effort you made today, and everything you'll do tomorrow and every day after will save lives."
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