Victoria records zero new local COVID cases, four in hotel quarantine

Victoria has recorded its 13th day of zero new local coronavirus cases, however four new infections were detected in hotel quarantine.

It is not yet known if the infections in hotel quarantine are associated with the Australian Open.

More than 15,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.

There are 34 active cases in the state, with a total of six linked to the tennis tournament.

A total of 25 local government areas in Sydney, including the Northern Beaches, moved from red to orange risk zones of travel at 6pm.

The Blue Mountains and Wollongong also moved from red to orange zones.

Other regional areas of NSW previously classed as orange, moved to green zones, allowing for unrestricted travel to Victoria.

The relaxation of border measures follows low community transmission and reduced exposure risk in some areas of Greater Sydney, Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“That’s a consequence of having seen no cases there for a sufficient period of time,” Mr Andrews said yesterday.

Thousands of Victorians will continue to make the journey home back to Victoria today after being stranded in NSW for several weeks.

There are still 10 local government areas in Sydney marked as ‘red’, preventing all travel – apart from exemptions – into Victoria.

Victorian health officials are still concerned about transmission in the remaining red zones, which include Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield.

“Those remaining LGAs are really where the exposure sites are, where the remaining cases and remaining transmission is,” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said.

“Of course, we all hope that there’s success in terms of getting on top of transmission in those remaining LGAs.”

The remaining 10 areas could move to orange zones by the end of the month if deemed safe to do so.

Victorian authorities are also under pressure to ensure all children get back to school for the new year on time.