'More cases will be discovered': Entire Victorian city - with a population of 50,000 - is urged to get tested for coronavirus after worrying infection spike

Health authorities have urged all 51,600 residents from the northern Victorian town of Shepparton to get tested after three locals became infected with COVID-19. 

The new cases were announced late on Tuesday by the state's Commander of Testing Jeroen Weimar and could signal the beginnings of a new cluster in the region.

'We have three active cases that are self-isolating at home and are being monitored by Goulburn Valley Health,' he said in a statement. 

'We expect as part of that effort, further cases will be discovered.

'To everyone locally - even if you haven't been near these locations - if you feel unwell at all, please get tested as soon as possible and stay at home until you get your results.'

Health authorities have urged all 51,600 residents from the northern Victorian town of Shepparton to get tested after three locals became infected with COVID-19

The new cases were announced late on Tuesday by the state's Commander of Testing Jeroen Weimar and could signal the beginnings of a new cluster in the region

Contact tracing is underway. 

From Wednesday, testing sites will open at GV Health's Acute Respiratory Clinic in Shepparton and at the showgrounds, with more expected to be set up as the day progresses.

Health authorities are advising all Shepparton residents to get tested and stay at home until they get their results.

Meanwhile, the state's chief health officer Brett Sutton has defended Victoria's coronavirus restrictions against comparisons with NSW where health authorities have been more lenient.

Victoria recorded 12 new cases on Tuesday - the state's sixth straight day of double-digit infections.

NSW had 13 new infections, the majority of which were locally acquired.

Asking why Victorians were subject to a strict lockdown unlike their northern neighbours, Professor Sutton said circumstances were not the same.

'The differences are really profound,' he said.

'Through this second wave, the 20,000 cases that occurred across Victoria settled into the hardest cohorts and populations across the state.

'The number of close contacts per household and the number of close contacts they have are hugely different.'

An opposition no-confidence motion against Premier Daniel Andrews handling of the pandemic failed in in parliament on Tuesday night.

Victoria recorded 12 new cases on Tuesday - the state's sixth straight day of double-digit infections

As Melbourne's 14-day rolling new case average rose to 10 on Tuesday, Mr Andrews reiterated Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown will likely be revised before he unveils some rule relaxations on Sunday.

Of the 12 new cases reported on Tuesday, seven are being investigated for links to the Box Hill Hospital outbreak, including four from the same household.

One is linked to the Chadstone outbreak through a household contact and another is linked to the Estia Keilor aged care facility.

A Geelong case is being reviewed and might turn out to be a false positive.

The state's death toll from the virus is 811 and the national figure is 899.

Elsewhere, Nazareth College in Melbourne's southeast has been cleared to reopen on Wednesday after a year 12 student tested positive.

High risk Shepparton locations

Central Tyre Service, Welsford Street Shepparton from Wednesday 30 September 2020 to Tuesday 13 October 2020.

Bunnings Warehouse, Midland Highway Shepparton Friday 2 October 2020

McDonalds Shepparton North, 175 Midland Highway Shepparton Saturday 3 October 2020

Mooroopna Golf Club Members Bar, Sunday 4 October and Pro Shop and Members Bar Sunday 11 October

Shepparton Market Place Medical Centre, Midland Highway Shepparton Thursday 8 October 2020

Lemon Tree Café, Fryers Street Shepparton

Thai Orchid Restaurant, Nixon Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October 2020 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

Bombshell Hairdressing, Fryers Street Shepparton on Wednesday 7 October 2020 from 9:30am to 10:30am.