The number of Victorian healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 has now passed 400.

The state recorded 217 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hour reporting period and two further deaths.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the declining figure was a “relief” but warned it included 11 further healthcare workers – taking the total to 405.

“If you want to thank those workers, if you are concerned about their welfare, if you are concerned by the fact that they put themselves in harm’s way every hour of every shift every single day, then do the right thing,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“Don’t contribute to the spread of the virus.”

Clusters that have emerged in hospitals grew too – 21 cases have now been linked to Northern Hospital and three cases to Warringal Private Hospital in Heidelberg.

“We should really have healthcare workers and the broader community in mind in everything that we do – staying at home, wearing a mask – these are not significant sacrifices,” Sutton said.

Victorian outbreak

Saturday’s numbers come a day after 428 were recorded in Victoria’s largest overnight increase since the pandemic began.

Of the latest cases, 11 are connected to known outbreaks, one is in quarantine, and 205 are under investigation.

There are now 2608 active cases across the state.

Of those, 110 Victorians are in hospital, 25 in intensive care, and 18 on ventilators.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the latest numbers were encouraging but warned it was just one day.

“We’d want to see a pattern where there’s stability and then a decrease,” he told reporters.

– With AAP