Shepparton's COVID-19 cluster has grown to 21 cases and most of them are children, the Victorian city's health chief says.
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Thousands of people are in home quarantine as contact tracers desperately try to determine the source of the cluster, which has helped send all of regional Victoria into lockdown.
What began with a single positive case on Friday quickly swelled to 17. By Saturday afternoon rapid testing had added a further four cases, taking the tally to 21.
More infections are expecting in coming days, with the cluster centred on three large families with children at three local schools.
One of the Shepparton cases recently travelled to Bendigo and Premier Daniel Andrews says there's 'every reason to believe that this is further into regional Victoria'.
At least 100 staff from the Goulburn Valley Health service are among those forced into quarantine due to associations with the schools with positive cases, Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp has told reporters.
St Mel's Primary School, Orrvale Primary School and the Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) have been deemed tier-one exposure sites, and students and staff have been ordered to isolate and get tested immediately.
Mr Sharp says the danger period dates back to the start of the school week, on Monday, and there is heightened risk for specific grades.
They are teachers and students in Years 7 and 11 at the GSSC McGuire Campus, teachers and students in Prep and Years 3/4 at St Mel's Primary School, and teachers and students in Years 5/6 at Orrvale Primary School.
"At the moment the number of households that are involved is really related to three closely associated family groups, and then some extended networks related to that group of people," Mr Sharp said.
"It's more than likely, I expect in the coming few days, that will broaden in terms of different households throughout the community."
Mr Sharp has been forced to call in support from Melbourne and Bendigo to maintain critical services, with so many local health staff having to isolate.
Of the 21 cases identified so far, the "majority" are primary and high-school aged children, he said, reflecting a trend across Australia.
Earlier on Saturday, the premier said he had no choice but to order all of regional Victoria into lockdown until September 2, and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was "likely" the virus had already spread beyond Shepparton.
"There is a very significant risk of transmission right across regional Victoria," Mr Andrews said.
Australian Associated Press
