The Victorian government is cutting back on some non-essential health services as a growing number of coronavirus infections are linked to hospitals and aged care services across Melbourne.
An additional 19 cases were on Thursday linked to the Northern Hospital in Epping, 16 to the Alfred Hospital in the Central Business District, and a further 16 at Brunswick Private Hospital.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that five staff members at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital had been infected with the virus.
Almost 400 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, with hundreds more across the state in isolation to stop the infection spreading further.
"When you have hundreds of new cases each day, it is inevitable that health care workers will be among those. Healthcare workers are as susceptible, if not more susceptible, to being infected than other members of the community," Melbourne emergency doctor and former Australian Medical Association vice president Stephen Parnis said.
"Health workers will either be positive cases or more commonly close contacts of positive cases and that mandates that you have to spend two weeks in isolation, and that has serious implications."
Dr Parnis, who himself was required to isolate in late March, added that it was essential health workers were supported with adequate staffing so they are well-rested, in order to mitigate infection risk. "That old adage about doctors and nurses soldiering on when you're not feeling well, that cannot apply in a pandemic," he said.
Victoria recorded 317 new cases on Thursday, the largest ever daily increase of any state or territory, forcing Premier Daniel Andrews to put a hold on category three elective surgery.
All elective surgery will be reduced to no more than 50 per cent of usual activity in public hospitals and 75 per cent in private hospitals to ensure there are enough spare beds and staff to meet the needs of the growing COVID-19 crisis.
"This will mean that private hospitals will be able to assist us with undertaking urgent surgery," Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said on Thursday.
"But we are creating more capacity in the system to deal with more patients. We hope this additional capacity will never be needed."
A number of outbreaks in aged care facilities are also being monitored, Victoria's Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said, including 31 cases linked to the Menarock Life aged care facility in Essendon.
Five cases have also been linked to St Basil’s in Fawkner, 23 to Glendale Aged Care in Werribee and 21 to various Estia Health facilities.
The Victorian Department for Health and Human Services have been contacted for comment.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
