Victoria's Chadstone shopping centre cluster grows to 11 as entire butcher shop quarantines

The COVID-19 cluster linked to Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne has grown to 11 cases.

The cluster is linked to The Butcher Club inside the centre, where the entire staff are now in mandatory hotel quarantine.

Concerningly, the positive cases that were present at the shop were there for a number of days - prompting Victoria's DHHS to call on any visitors to Chadstone shopping centre who show symptoms to get tested.

READ MORE: Chadstone shopping centre coronavirus outbreak linked to Frankston household cluster

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said given the cluster is linked to a butchery the state is treating the outbreak in the same way they would an abattoir.

"We have stood up both testing for asymptomatic staff at Chadstone more broadly, knowing they are there for prolonged periods of time over multiple days and, therefore, we're happy to test those individuals without symptoms in the same way we would in an abattoir," Professor Sutton said.

"But also testing for symptomatic individuals who are visitors to Chadstone.

"Anyone with symptoms can go to a testing site at Chadstone."

READ MORE: Victoria records seven new cases of COVID-19, two deaths

Victoria's DHHS is currently working to find out whether patient zero of the cluster was a butcher inside the shop or a centre cleaner who attended work when unwell.

When pushed as to why the butchery was still trading on Wednesday, Professor Sutton said the shop has since been closed and deep cleaned.

"As I say, we close things down as soon as we're aware that there are cases who are infectious who worked there," Professor Sutton said.

"Sometimes there are linked, but we are not aware that someone is infectious while they're there. So, I can go back to the details.

"But that would be our absolute routine response."

READ MORE: Victoria's COVID death toll hits grim milestone

Overnight Victoria recorded seven new cases today, bringing the total number of active cases to 261.

One of the new cases is linked to a known outbreak. Six are under investigation and one case was reclassified.

The total number of deaths has risen to 802 after two fatalities were recorded including one woman and one man in their 80s.

"Both of these deaths are linked to aged care and again we send our condolences and our sympathies to those two families," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

READ MORE: Chadstone shopping centre outbreak linked to household cluster

There are 38 Victorians in hospital, four of those are in intensive care and there of those four are on a ventilator.

The state conducted 12,550 test results in the most recent reporting period.

Mr Andrews encouraged Victorians to continue to be tested over the weekend, particularly due to sunny weather which could see increased movement around the state.

"It makes a massive difference to the completeness of the picture that we are working with, as well as in very practical terms. If you get tested, if you are positive, we can support you, we can support your family and we can make sure that you don't spread this virus, almost always unknowingly, to other people," he said.

"The weather on the weekend will be better. Can I ask every Victorian, if you have got symptoms this weekend, please don't wait until Monday to get tested … We will get the result back to you within 24 hours."