As it happened: Victoria records seven new COVID-19 cases as regional areas brace for possible cluster; NSW 'holding off' on easing further restrictions as the national death toll jumps to 904

A spokesman for the department said the the store could be effectively contact traced and therefore was not put on the website as a high-risk exposure site.

The store was closed for a deep clean and the investigation continues with any close contacts being identified.

Dr Robertson also revealed the state government’s 'all-or-nothing' approach to reopening the border was not based on health advice, despite Premier McGowan regularly claiming it was.

Asked by a journalist on October 1 where the 'all-or-nothing' approach came from, Mr McGowan said: “It’s medical advice, it’s confirmed by the Federal Court that heard all the evidence, it’s the advice of the Chief Health Officer.”

Yet in July, Mr McGowan told reporters the approach was based on legal advice.

“To pick and choose between the states we’ve been advised is constitutionally unlawful,” he said.

The Premier’s office has since refused to clarify whether the legal advice, originally provided by the State Solicitor’s Office, had changed.

Every other Australian jurisdiction, except Tasmania and Victoria, have their borders open to selected states only.

Read the full story here.

"There will be even more capacity tomorrow and I'll ask you to try again tomorrow. And in the meantime, please do self isolate," he said.

"If you're at those locations in that time window then we'd ask you to come and get tested regardless of how you feel."

The Shepparton GP Respiratory Clinic will also open until 8pm tomorrow.

"We don't think it will deliver the yield that we're looking for. And we continue to look at a whole range of other reforms."

The Criminal Bar Association of Victoria, while keen for jury trials to resume, opposes a reduction in the number of jurors hearing each case. But advocates for smaller juries believe the reform would still provide a cross-section of community representation and allow courts to begin safely holding trials sooner.

Tom Gyorffy, QC, a barrister for more than 40 years and a former Crown prosecutor, recently wrote to the Andrews government arguing for six-member juries to hear criminal trials. He told The Age it was vital the justice system didn't grind to a halt and that Victoria's judges were under-used while no jury trials were being heard.

Mr Gyorffy said the High Court had previously ruled that 12 people were not required on a jury, so long as there was a panel representative of the community, and that as a barrister he would be comfortable appearing in a trial with a small jury.

"If they were chosen at random and you went through that process, then yes," he said.

Read the full story here.

• Central Tyre Service, Welsford Street Shepparton on Wednesday 30 September to Tuesday 13 October 2020
• Mooroopna Golf Club Members Bar Sunday 4 October and Sunday 11 October 2020
• Bombshell Hairdressing, Fryers Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October 2020 from 9:30am
• Thai Orchid Restaurant, Nixon Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October 2020 from 7:00pm
• Shepparton Market Place Medical Centre Midland Highway Shepparton Thursday 8 October 2020 from 9:15am to 10:15am

Casual contacts

If you have visited any of the locations of concern below you should get tested and stay at home while you await your results. In addition, people should be vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested again at the first sign of any symptoms:

• Bunnings Warehouse Shepparton Benalla Road Shepparton Wednesday 30 September 2020
• McDonalds Shepparton North 175 Midland Highway Shepparton Saturday 3 October 2020
• Lemon Tree Café Fryers Street Shepparton Wednesday 7 October to Monday 12 October 2020
• Mooroopna Golf Club Pro Shop Sunday 11 October 2020

Testing in Shepparton is available at:

• GV Health's Acute Respiratory Clinic at Graham Street, Shepparton. Open seven days per week from 9:00am to 5:30pm.
• The McIntosh Centre at Shepparton Showgrounds, Corner of Midland Highway and Thompson Street will open from 12:30pm.
• Shepparton Respiratory Clinic, 172 Welsford Street, Shepparton, 9:00am – 05.30pm today and from 9am to 8pm from tomorrow (extended hours). The GP respiratory clinic is an appointment only site.

"We know the World Health Organisation has set out its concerns about prolonged lockdowns."

It comes as Mr Andrews reviews the state's road-map targets after admitting on Tuesday the initial goal - a 14-day average of fewer than five cases per day, then zero cases - may be unachievable, and after official data showed a spike in demand for mental health services.

Mr Hunt said Melbourne's rolling 14-day average was 9.6 cases, meaning it had already met the Commonwealth threshold.

But the Commonwealth hotspot definition is based on a rolling three-day average.

Under this measurement, Melbourne was close to falling below the hotspot threshold on Wednesday with a rolling three-day average of 10.33, while the state was sitting at 11.33 overall.

Mr Hunt said NSW, using the national hotspot definition, had been able to "carefully, cautiously progressively, lift restrictions" and that this model "would respectfully provide a way forward for Victoria.

Read the full story here.