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Summary
- Victoria declares the virus-free community with 28 consecutive days of no new coronavirus cases.
- Rigorous contact tracing conducted in the state is now showing its results.
- With the positive news coming in from the state of Victoria, the residents will now be free to travel to Tasmania.
Victoria seems to have emerged from the disastrous second coronavirus wave. The state has recorded no new coronavirus cases for the 28th consecutive day.
According to the epidemiologists, Victoria has met the official definition of COVID-19 eradication in the community. The state ended the week on a cheerful note as Friday recorded zero new infections or deaths, marking the 28th "double doughnut day" in a row. From almost 8,000 active cases in Victoria on August 11 to no new cases on November 27, Victorians have achieved a breakthrough.
According to the health authorities, 28 days with no news cases meets the official criteria to declare the virus-free community. But it should mean that the time frame represents two 14-day incubation periods as well.
On Friday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews informed that all Victorians should be proud of the fact that there are no new cases in the state.
Good Read: High alert in South Australia after first coronavirus outbreak in months
Coronavirus fragments found in treatment plant
The Department of Health and Human Services revealed on Thursday afternoon that the virus fragments were spotted at a wastewater treatment plant in Corio, during the surveillance testing program.
The components were detected in a sample from the treatment plant. The residents are urged to get tested if any symptoms are noticed. Also, the visitors who were in the area from Saturday to Tuesday have been requested to get the test done.
State's last coronavirus patient was discharged from the hospital on Monday, which marked the milestone for the state without an active case. With the continuous tests going on in Victoria, the authorities have found no recent cases in the area.
Did You Watch: How doughnut a day keeps COVID away?
Rapid contact tracing proven successful?
Amid the international travellers' arrivals and hotel quarantine breaches, states contact trading program has been improved. Now, these issues are less pressing than they were at the beginning of the pandemic in March.
The health experts are praising Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, and his deputy Professor Allen Cheng to lead the state to 28-days milestone successfully. They are hailed as the mastermind in eliminating the virus wave as the team was quick enough to shut down small outbreaks in the Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Brief Read: Prick Test Bungle in Victoria leads to the risk of Hepatitis & HIV in quarantine people
Tasmania reopens its borders
With the positive news coming in from the state of Victoria, the residents will now be free to travel to Tasmania. The borders tightly closed for months are now opened for the virus-free state residents. Preparations are underway to restart the hotel quarantine program. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday advised authorities to implement a revamped model.
About 700 travellers are set to arrive in Tasmania from Victoria from Friday onwards. Eight flights will depart from the Melbourne-Launceston route. However, there are fewer chances of home-based quarantine as an option for international travellers as the Premier had rejected the idea.
