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Coronavirus Victoria: Cases jump again as another life lost in Melbourne outbreak

Karen SweeneyAAP
VideoVictoria's coronavirus crisis worsens, with millions in lockdown, as Queensland reopens its borders.

Victoria has recorded 216 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, down from the 288 new cases recorded the previous day.

A man in his 90s died overnight while 49 remain in hospital, including 15 in intensive care, Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday morning.

More than 180 of the new cases are still under investigation, with 30 linked to known outbreaks.

The figures comes after a warning of more ugliness to come.

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“We will see more and more additional cases, that’s the nature of this,” Mr Andrews said.

It takes the total number of cases in the state to 3560 and the national death toll to 107.

The premier said people were noticeably taking on board the recommendation that they wear masks in public when out and about for one of the four allowed reasons.

“The wearing of masks could well be a really important feature of the next part of our pandemic response,” he said.

Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said single cases had been recorded among staff in aged care facilities.

He said the state has had more aged care facility outbreaks than any other state, but no really substantial ones because of the response.

The premier said he had accepted all offers of support from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Defence force staff have been deployed at checkpoints, and more are on their way, he said.

“If I need something I ring the prime minister and he says ’yes’,” he said.

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