UPDATE: Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley did not explain or clarify the discrepancy over Wangaratta's wastewater test result during the government's daily briefing.
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"I understand our public health team have been in discussions with officials in Wangaratta about those issues," he said.
"We're all committed to making sure that we stay ahead of this and crack down on this virus and get back to something that looks like a COVID-normal as soon as possible."
Mr Foley was asked again whether the Premier's information on Thursday or Northeast Health's information on Friday was correct, the reporter adding "because they both can't be right".
"We're in constant discussion with our public health officials, our wastewater testing team and our locals and whether it's in Wangaratta, Mildura or anywhere around regional Victoria, the rules apply to us all because we're all facing a similar risk," he answered.
Mr Foley said the Wangaratta result was not the only reason behind extending the lockdown to regional Victoria.
"We've seen cases in Mildura, in Ballan, in Bacchus Marsh, Phillip Island, East Gippsland, right across the state," he said.
Victoria's COVID response commander Jeroen Weimar later said in the briefing virus fragments had been detected in Wangaratta recently but he did not have information available on the exact dates.
EARLIER: Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says Victoria is in a "precarious situation" as six cases are recorded on the state's first day of lockdown six.
Of six cases, three live together and are linked to the Hobsons Bay outbreak, two of whom were reported by media yesterday.
One case is a close contact linked to a Melbourne special school.
"The six new locally-acquired cases are all linked to previously reported cases and were not in quarantine during their infectious periods," the Department of Health and Human Services said.
Mr Foley referenced a wastewater detection in Wangaratta originally advised by Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday but did not elaborate on the detection.
Victoria's Covid response commander Jeroen Weimar said the acquisition source was still being investigated for some cases.
"We currently have 84 exposure sites ... we think exposure sites will start to spread across a wider part of the city and potentially regional Victoria," he said.
"We've all had enough of these lockdowns ... but we know that it works."
Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said a new support package would be available for this lockdown, supported by the Commonwealth.
"It means this package can be in the vicinity of $400 million for a seven-day lockdown," he said.
Alpine businesses will receive between $5000 (off-mountain) and $20,000 (employing businesses, on mountain) under a $10.6 million extension of the Alpine Business Support Program.
About $54 million will be added to the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund announced last week, allowing grants of up to $8000 to be paid to small businesses that are not eligible for support under existing programs and have experienced a 70 per cent reduction in turnover.
Figures showed 18,901 vaccine doses were administered and 29,631 test results received.
MORE COVID NEWS:
Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees has cast doubt on virus traces detected in a sewerage test in his city.
Cr Rees said on Friday morning he felt this information was incorrect.
"Our news last night was the Premier's made a mistake on that," he told 2AY.
"A couple of days ago it was positive, the second test then showed negative, the third test has been negative as well.
"So if the Premier is locking down all of the country areas because of misinformation by his staffers, well, it does pose a bit of a problem here."
Cr Rees said he felt for Melbourne residents but felt the lockdown shouldn't be extended to regional areas.
The Border Mail has contacted the Victorian government to confirm the status of the Wangaratta sewage test.
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