Victoria records 17 new Covid cases amid warning the next '48 hours is critical' for lockdown to end on time as exposure sites balloon to 217 and virus spreads further into regions

Daniel Andrews has warned the next 48 hours are 'critical' in determining if Victoria will end its five-day lockdown on time as the state recorded 17 new cases and its list of exposure sites skyrocketed to 217 venues.  

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Premier revealed it was too early to determine if restrictions would be rolled back at 11.59pm on Tuesday.  

'I can't make announcements of what will be relevant and what will be done safely and what will be possible from midnight on Tuesday,' he said.

'The next 24 and 48 hours are critical in terms of that. As soon as we can provide people with greater clarity … then, of course, we will.  

'But it is too early, frustrating I know, but too early for us to make those announcements today.' 

The Department of Health announced 16 new cases had been reported on Sunday - before it was later revealed a 17th case had also been recorded, but will be included in tomorrow's numbers. 

The case is a man in his 30s from Mildura, 540km north-west of Melbourne, who attended a Carlton and Geelong game at the MCG on July 10.

Daniel Andrews has warned the next 48 hours are 'critical' in determining if Victoria will end its five-day lockdown on time - as the state recorded 17 new cases and its list of exposure sites skyrocketed to 217 venues

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the state premier revealed it was too early to determine if the restrictions would be rolled back at 11.59pm on Tuesday

The case in Mildura is bad news for regional Victorians who were hoping to be freed from lockdown sooner

He had been sitting in the MCC members area on Level 2 at the stadium. 

The case is bad news for regional Victorians who were hoping to be freed from lockdown sooner.  

'I know it is incredibly frustrating for people who are a long way from Melbourne but that virus can reach you, as we can see with this Mildura case,' Mr Andrews said.

'As I've said a number of times if I get advice, and I do not have any advice, if I was to get advice that parts of regional Victoria could be allowed out, then we wouldn't hesitate to do that.

'I have no such advice because it is not deemed safe to do so at this stage, and I think the Mildura case just demonstrates the state, from a virus point of view, the state's a lot smaller than the might seem.'  

All of the new cases have been linked to known clusters, taking the state's outbreak to 59. 

Five were linked to the Ms Frankie Cafe with a staff member and four patrons testing positive.

Four were household contacts of the City of Hume outbreak, three were connected to Trinity Grammar and one was a primary close contact of a case on Phillip Island.

Another was a teacher at Bacchus Marsh Grammar and two were spectators who visited AAMI Park to watch the Wallabies versus France showdown on July 13. 

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Crafty Squire on Russell Street was also of particular concern after a Covid-19 positive patron visited the venue to watch the Euro Final on July 12.

Professor Sutton made a subtle dig to the losing English side after they were beaten by Italy.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Crafty Squire on Russell Street was also of particular concern after a Covid-19 positive patron visited the venue to watch the Euro Final on July 12

A store keeper wearing a mask hands over an order in the deli section of the Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne residents exercising along the Yarra River on the third day of lockdown on Sunday

More than 10,000 close contacts of known cases are already isolating in Victoria, but there is a concern that the viral spread is occurring well before contact tracers track down cases

'We are concerned about the Crafty Squire event, they will have been people therefore a prolonged period of time, eating and drinking,' he said. 

'I'm sure there will have been shouting, or for the English, crying. There were more than 400 people present.

'We are going through the ticket holders, we're going through the QR codes, but there were a number of people who bought tickets in bulk and gave them to their friends. 

'So it's really a shout out to anyone who's been there from 3am to 8am to contact us and to make sure you're testing and quarantining.' 

In the 24 hours to midnight, 53,283 Victorians were tested for the virus and a further 16,751 were vaccinated against Covid. 

Another 50 exposure sites have also been added to the list, bringing the total to 217 venues - up from 160 on Saturday.  

COVID-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar said there were four public exposure sites at the centre of 'significant community transmission'.

They included the MCG, with six cases, AAMI Park, with three cases, Ms Frankie Cafe, with eight cases, and Young and Jackson hotel. 

The state's snap five-day 'circuit breaker' lockdown is due to lift on Tuesday at 11.59pm, but Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is already warning Melburnians to 'brace ourselves for any possibility'

All of the new cases have been linked to known clusters, taking the state's outbreak to 59

A Covid-19 positive fan visited AAMI Park to watch the Australia-France rugby union test match on Tuesday night. 

Spectators have been told to get tested and isolate immediately if they walked through Gate Seven between 7.56pm and 8.13pm. 

A men's bathroom between aisles 21 and 23 has been listed as a Tier 2 site with spectators told to get tested if they visited the stalls between 8.45pm and 9.15pm.  

The highly infectious Delta strain is currently rippling through communities as under 40s who haven't qualified for a vaccine spread the virus among friends without realising.

More than 10,000 close contacts of known cases are already isolating in Victoria, but there is concern that the viral spread is occurring well before contact tracers track down infected people. 

The state's snap five-day 'circuit breaker' lockdown is due to lift on Tuesday at 11.59pm, but Dr Sutton is already warning Melburnians to 'brace ourselves for any possibility'. 

FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

People are seen exercising along the Yarra River on Victoria's third day of a snap five day lockdown

The highly infectious Delta strain is rippling through communities as under 40s who haven't qualified for a vaccine spread the virus among friends without realising. Pictured: A woman checking in to Queen Victoria Market

With more than 200 exposure sites and an ever-growing list of close contacts, an anonymous government source told The Age it was 'improbable' five days in lockdown would be long enough to contain the spread. 

The prediction doesn't bode well for a state already tired after enduring 112 days of lockdown or harsh restrictions in 2020 alone.

'I'm going to go to the bathroom and start crying,' café owner Heidi Gavdos said. 

'It's devastating... we've only got six staff and this means I have to get rid of three, maybe four.' 

Emergency doctor Steve Parnis told Victorians to 'steele themselves for the fact that this lockdown may go longer'.

'It's spreading like a bushfire,' he said. 

Anthony Acquaro, who runs Cafe Asporto in Williamstown, said that 'more than anything... it affects people's mental health'. 

But it's the people in small country towns who are particularly concerned.

A man and a woman walk in Melbourne's CBD on Melbourne's second day of a snap lockdown

The state's snap five-day 'circuit breaker' lockdown is due to lift on Wednesday, but Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is already warning Melburnians to 'brace ourselves for any possibility'

'I think everyone is feeling like it's groundhog day; we're very flat and deflated,' local dog groomer ­Andrea Lee told The Herald Sun.

Ms Lee lives in Maldon, a country town 30 minutes outside of Bendigo, and home to just 1,153 people.

She, along with many others in town that she knows, has suffered a 'huge financial loss' throughout each of the lockdowns, and is angry that Melburnians with holiday homes are fleeing to regional areas.

'It's not fair to jeopardise country towns and regional Victoria just so you're more comfortable,' she said.

Throughout the entire pandemic, Maldon has had one confirmed Covid case - and locals would like to keep it that way.

They're all hopeful regional Victoria will not be subjected to the same extended lockdown that Melbourne might be placed under, and urged people from the city not to escape to the countryside if further lockdowns are announced. 

'We need to shut Melbourne out. In the little supermarket there was 30-odd people I didn't know,' Mt ­Alexander Shire councillor Stephen Gardner said. 

The pleas come amid outrage that Melbourne's AFL players were able to skip the lockdown and head straight to Queensland. 

A father and son walk up Collins Street on Saturday, day two of Victoria's circuit breaker lockdown 

Premier Daniel Andrews is begging Victorians to get tested and monitor exposure sites to know if they need to isolate

Comedian Dave Hughes questioned who signed off on the decision to put another community at risk of the Delta variant, especially after word spread that players at eight separate clubs visited exposure sites in the days before fleeing. 

'Flying all those teams out of Melbourne to play games rather than having them play in Melb, when it was already obvious that players/staff would have been exposed is unbelievable,' he said.

'This is bats**t crazy.' 

Queensland has so far managed to contain and control the threat of the Delta variant of Covid, but 50-year-old Hughes was floored by the State Government's decision to supposedly 'risk their current zero Covid utopias'. 

' is insanity,' he said. 

Streets are deserted in Melbourne as the city returns to lockdown - after spending 112 days under tight restrictions in 2020

Comedian Dave Hughes questioned who signed off on the decision to put another community at risk of the Delta variant of Covid by flying AFL players to Queensland

More than 60 per cent of Victoria's latest Covid cases are under 40 years old, and an anonymous government source told The Age that those infected were unlikely to be vaccinated. 

Mr Andrews urged the public to keep abreast of the latest news, particularly the increasing exposure sites list.

On Saturday afternoon, he shared the updated list to his Twitter account, writing:  'The current exposure sites show that we're a real social bunch. 

'So it's no surprise that we're seeing exposure sites where people have been having a bite, travelling to and from games and at watch parties over the last week or so.

'Please check the list… because we need to slow the spread of the virus, and we need your help to do it.'

Health workers collect swab samples from residents at a Covid-19 drive-through testing facility in Melbourne

Victoria's exposure sites list swells 

Tier 1 - Anyone who has visited the following locations during the listed times must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure:

AAMI Park: Gate Seven, Tuesday July 13, from 7.56pm to 8.13pm.  

Broadmeadows: Olsen Place Pharmacy, Thursday July 15 from 3:25pm to 4:15pm

Kew: Skinny Dog Hotel, Wednesday July 14 from 6:05pm to 7:35pm

Kew: Augustus Gelato, Wednesday July 14 from 7:10pm 7:55pm

Camberwell: Chargrill Charlie's, Wednesday July 14 4:10pm to 5:10pm

Clayton: Home Make It, Thursday July 15 from 4:04pm to 4:29pm

Cowes: Liquorland, Monday July 12 from 5pm to 5:30pm

Cowes: Salvos, Tuesday July 13 from 10:35am to 10:55am

Cremorne: Gaochi King Restaurant, Tuesday July 13 from 8:30pm to 9:10pm

Tottenham: Rocke Brothers Pty Ltd - Transportation, Wednesday July 14 from 5:20am to 5:30pm

Tottenham: Rocke Brothers Pty Ltd - Transportation, Tuesday July 13 from 5:20am to 5:30pm

Cowes: Cowes Shopping Centre Public Toilets, Wednesday July 14 from 10:40am to 11:20am

Dallas: Foodworks, Friday July 16 from 11:45am to 1pm

Dallas: Freshplus, Friday July 16 from 1pm to 1:50pm

Albert Park: Basketball Hall, Melbourne Sports and Acquatic Centre , Thursday July 25 from 9:15pm to 10:40pm

Melbourne: The Crafty Squire, Monday July 12 from 3am to 8:15am

Footscray: Jesus is the Way Christian Church, Wednesday July 14 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Cowes: U-Neek Souvenirs Stores, Tuesday July 13 from 11:05am to 11:30am

Malvern East: McDonalds Homesglen, Wednesday July 14 from 10:35pm to 11pm

Kew: Frank & Harri, Tuesday July 13 from 10am to 11:30am

Kew: Frank & Harri, Wednesday July 14 from 10am to 11:30am

Melbourne: Construction Site - Bourke Street entrance, lobby, and lantern area, Thursday July 15 from 8:50am to 10am

Altona: Altona Sports Centre, Tuesday July 13 from 8pm to 10pm

Cowes: Subway, Wednesday July 14 from 12:20pm to 12:45pm

Cowes: Woolworths, Wednesday July 14 from 12:28pm to 12:45pm

Cowes: Aldi, Tuesday July 13 from 6:55pm to 7:25pm

Cowes: Xpress Gourmet Pizza and Pasta, Tuesday July 13 from 7:10pm to 7:25pm

Cowes: Xpress Gourmet Pizza and Pasta, Tuesday July 13 from 6:50pm to 7:05pm

Cowes: Youki's Japenese Restaurant, Tuesday July 13 from 12:55pm to 1:20pm

Cowes: One Stop Discount Shop, Tuesday July 13 from 10:50am to 11:15am

Cowes: Woolworths, Tuesday July 13 from 10L40am to 11:05am

Cowes: Vinnies, Tuesday July 13, 9am to 9:20am

Cremorne: Ms Frankie, Thursday July 15 from 4pm to 10:30pm

Cremorne: Ms Frankie, Thursday July 15 from 12:30pm to 11:59pm

Collins Square Ground Floor Foyer (Tower 4) - Wednesday July 14, 9:00am to 9:05am

End of Trip Facility in Collins Square (Car Park 1), Thursday July 15, 8:50am to 9:30am

End of Trip Facility in Collins Square (Car Park 1), Tuesday July 13, 7:55am to 8:30am

Collins Square (Level 19, Tower 4), Thursday July 15, 10:50am to 3:15pm

Collins Square (Level 19, Tower 4), Wednesday July 14, 9:00am to 6:30pm

Collins Square (Level 19, Tower 4), Tuesday July 13, 8:15am to 5:30pm

Bentleigh East: Valkstone Primary School basketball stadium - Wednesday, July 14, 4.45pm-6.30pm

Phillip Island: Cowes North Pier Hotel - Monday, July 12, 7.22pm-10.47pm

Phillip Island: Grand Prix Circuit, Ventor - Tuesday, July 13, 11.10am-1.17pm

Phillip Island: Coles supermarket, Cowes - Monday, July 12, 4.30pm-5.30pm

Richmond: F45 Cremorne Street - Wednesday, July 14, 6.50am-8.05am, Thursday July 15, 6.35am-8.05am

Frankston: Village Cinemas showing of the movie Black Widow - Monday, July 12, 6pm-8.30pm

Point Cook: Sanctuary Lakes Charcoal Chicken & Salad Bar - Wednesday, July 14, 12:46pm - 1:20pm

Richmond: Percy Beames Bar, Members' Reserve (Level 2) - Melbourne Cricket Ground - Saturday July 10, 4:00pm - 4:30pm and 5:20pm - 5:50pm

Sunshine: Helping Hands Mission Inc Sunshine Op Shop - Monday, July 12, 10:30am - 11:30am

Niddrie: Vinnies Niddrie - Monday July 12, 11:30am - 12:30pm

Moonee Ponds: Hero Sushi - Monday July 12, 2:30pm - 3:15pm

Maidstone: Chemist Warehouse - Monday July 12, 5:10pm - 5:50pm

Bundoora: Dr Suguna Vimalanathan Dental Surgery - Tuesday July 13, 12:30pm - 1:03pm and 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Bundoora: Salvos Stores Bundoora - Tuesday July 13, 11:45am - 1:00pm

Moonee Ponds: Australian Red Cross Moonee Ponds Op Shop - Monday, July 12, 12:30pm - 1:15pm

Carnegie: Spotlight - Tuesday July 13, 4:20pm - 5:00pm

Tier 2 - Anyone who has visited the following locations during the listed times should urgently get tested, then isolate until confirmation of a negative result. Continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested again if symptoms appear:

AAMI Park: Men's bathroom between aisles 21 and 23, Tuesday July 13, between 8.45pm to 9.15pm. 

Metro Trains- Glen Waverley Line, Richmond Station to Holmesglen Station - Wednesday July 14, 10:13pm - 10:34pm

Metro Trains- Glen Waverley Line, Richmond Station to Holmesglen Station - Wednesday July 14, 3:26pm - 3:48pm

Waurn Ponds: Deakin University buildings IB and IC - Wednesday July 14, 10am-2pm

Waurn Ponds: Deakin University market hall cafeteria, building JB - Wednesday July 14, 12pm-1pm

Phillip Island: Phillip Island Bakery, Cowes - Tuesday, July 13, 1pm-1.45pm

Phillip Island: Phillip Island Coffee Co, Cowes - Wednesday, July 14, 9.10am-9.50am

Phillip Island: Phillip Island Nature Parks, The Nobbies, Summerlands - Monday, July 12, 3.35pm-4.20pm; Tuesday, July 13, 4.37pm-5.10pm

Phillip Island: Phillip Island Chocolate Factory - Tuesday, July 13, 2.57pm-3.55pm

Phillip Island: G'Day Tiger, Cowes - Tuesday July 13, 9.16am-10.24am

Phillip Island: A Maze N Things Theme Park, Cowes - Wednesday, July 14, 3.24pm-4.05pm

Phillip Island: Jolly Lolly Trolley, Cowes - Wednesday, July 14, 3.24pm-4.05pm

Williamstown: Coles - Tuesday July 13, 5:20pm - 5:55pm

Richmond: MCC Members' Reserve (all other staff and ticketholders, all levels), Carlton v Geelong game - Saturday July 10, 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Richmond: Coles - Monday July 12, 12:30pm - 1:05pm

Richmond: Soul Origin - Monday July 12, 12:35pm - 1:10pm

Richmond: Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre - Basement level car park (Purple Zone) - Monday July 12, 8:50am - 9:30am and 4:30pm - 5:10pm

Avondale Heights: Coles - Monday July 12, 8:00am - 9:15am

Chadstone: ZiNG Pop Culture - Monday July 12, 5:25pm - 6:00pm

Chadstone: Target - Monday July 12, 5:25pm - 6:00pm

Chadstone: Kmart - Monday July 12, 5:25pm - 6:00pm

Carnegie: Carnegie Central - Tuesday July 13, 4:20pm - 5:20pm