Disaster medical teams and the military have been brought in to help tackle outbreaks in Victoria's coronavirus-stricken aged care facilities as the death toll continues to rise.
Victoria reported 295 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and nine deaths, including seven aged care residents, bringing the state's toll to 92.
The rest of Australia combined has seen 84 deaths from the virus since the start of the pandemic.
Premier Daniel Andrews has warned every Victorian who tests positive to COVID-19 should expect a knock on the door from the military.
Australian Defence Force personnel and public health workers have been visiting the homes of known positive cases who could not be contacted, but from Thursday they will begin doorknocking all confirmed cases.
Mr Andrews said of the 500 visits already, people were not home for 29 of them. Those cases have been referred to police.
"(It) is not about compliance, but making sure that every single positive case understands what we are asking them to do," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"And it is their opportunity to ask what they need from us, what can we do for you to support you in unique circumstances."
Military personnel have been brought in to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. Source: AAP
'There will be more deaths'
Figures released by the state government show there are 952 active cases linked to aged care, including workers, with 87 facilities having active outbreaks.
Former chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, now secretary of the federal Department of Health, said more elderly people will die from the virus.
"There will be more deaths with the number of aged-care recipients that are infected," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We know that it is a certainty. We will see deaths every day - and that is a tragedy."
The first of five Australian Medical Assistance Teams, which provide disaster relief in critical health situations, will arrive in Victoria on Thursday.
Secretary of the Department of Health Brendan Murphy says more coronavirus deaths in Victoria is a "certainty". Source: AAP
They will join some 1400 Australian Defence Force personnel already on the ground in the state.
Meanwhile, NSW has reported 19 new cases including two in hotel quarantine.
Authorities fear a spike in disease clusters after cases spread to Sydney's densely populated eastern suburbs.
Queensland braces for community transmission
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will ban all visitors from Sydney from Saturday after two teenagers with coronavirus dodged quarantine.
The two 19-year-olds travelled to Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney and are under investigation for allegedly giving false information on border declarations.
On Wednesday, a 22-year-old woman who works at YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care and is known to the teens became the state's first community transmission of COVID-19 in two months.
The 19-year-old girls, from Logan and Park Ridge, returned from Melbourne, via Sydney, on 21 July and spent eight days in the community before testing positive. One of them is a cleaner at a school.
They have reportedly been fined $4000 each for making false declarations.
They have sparked a massive contact tracing mission for Queensland Health while being responsible for the state's first community transmission of coronavirus since May.
"We have not had a new case of COVID-19 outside of quarantine since May," Health Minister Steven Miles told reporters.
Passengers seated near the pair on flights VA863 and VA977 and are also being contacted by contact tracing teams.
South Australia has imposed tougher border controls with Victoria, meaning residents can no longer return and tighter limits for towns near the edge of the two states.
WA recorded two new cases, both returned travellers.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. It is also mandatory 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.
