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Victoria has witnessed its worst day on record for confirmed COVID-19 cases, reporting 428 more infections overnight.
The figure is well above yesterday's previous highest daily tally of 317 new cases, and marks the state's 12th day in a row of triple-digit increases of COVID-19 infections.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) also reported that three people have died from COVID-19 since yesterday's press conference, bringing the death tally since the pandemic began in Victoria to 32.
Of the 428 new cases, 57 relate to known outbreaks, one is in hotel quarantine, and 370 are under investigation.
112 people in Victoria are now in hospital because of COVID-19 complications, and 31 people are in intensive care.
The state conducted 24,409 tests yesterday, bringing the total number of tests completed in Victoria to 1,250,408.
"Certainly 428 new cases is both disappointing and concerning," says chief health officer Brett Sutton.
"We have not turned the corner here."
Andrews says because of small spikes of infection in regional Victoria there will be new testing clinics established in some regions.
"Additional test sites and expanded test sites are critically important," says Andrews.
"We're also setting up dedicated regional public health teams, local squads who can really bring that intensive intervention to even the smallest number of cases to really sit on those cases to make sure that they get the best public health response."
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis in Victoria has forced Melbourne into a state of lockdown for six weeks under Stage 3 'Stay at Home' restrictions, and Andrews says unless people follow the rules that period of time could be extended.
"These are sacrifices - I know that no one is enjoying being in a six week lockdown," says Andrews.
"Stay at Home orders are deeply frustrating, but at the same time, they are the only tool that we have. We don't want to extend this any longer than the six weeks, we don't want to have to put in any additional rules, and that's why we're so grateful to those who are doing the right thing.
"This is simple in many respects, they're small things for many people, but they do make a really big difference in the number of people who will be infected, the length of time that we will be locked down, and the likelihood or otherwise of having to add to these rules with further restrictions."
Updated at 11:49am AEST on 17 July 2020.
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