27 new coronavirus cases diagnosed in Victoria on Tuesday

The new cases include 14 men and 13 women, with people aged from late teens to early seventies. The Department of Health and Human Services is continuing to investigate all new cases.At the present time, there are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently six people are recovering in hospital. More than 15,200 Victorians have been tested to date.Victoria’s chief health officer professor Brett Sutton said we will continue to see more cases of COVID-19 in Victoria.“We are reviewing this rapidly evolving situation daily and will continue to provide up-to-date information to the community,” Professor Sutton said.“We are all focused on doing whatever is necessary to minimise the spread of infection and keep Victorians safe.“For the virus to spread, extended close personal contact is most likely required. Close personal contact is at least 15 minutes face-to-face or more than two hours in the same room.“At the moment, we urge the public to be mindful and take steps to minimise the risk of COVID-19. Everyone has a role to play in protecting yourself and your family. Hands should be washed regularly with soap and water. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you are ill, stay at home.”The Department of Health and Human Services follows up and monitors all close contacts of confirmed cases and provides them with information and support. All close contacts must self-isolate for 14-days. All people arriving from any international destination must also self-isolate for 14 days as per Commonwealth Government direction.Extensive testing has shown that people who have passed through places where there was a confirmed case, known as casual contacts, have an extremely low risk of transmission and are not currently recommended for testing. This will help to ensure our hospitals, assessment centres and general practitioners can prioritise testing for those most at risk.The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has a hotline for public information on COVID-19 which is 1800 675 398. Large numbers of calls will result in some delays and we ask Victorians for their patience as we work to manage the volume. Further information is also available at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus