LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
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* Victoria could have Australia's first COVID-19 reinfection, one of only a handful recorded worldwide during the pandemic.
* Victorian health authorities are to make a final determination but are treating the Melbourne man as a new case, rather than him shedding the virus he first caught in July.
* Deakin University's Professor Catherine Bennett said it was right for health authorities to err on the side of caution and manage the case as if it is an active infection.
* No coronavirus deaths were reported in Victoria - keeping the state toll at 817 and the national figure at 905 - along with three new cases.
* Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed an inquiry into the state's flawed hotel quarantine program had asked him to answer some questions after Tuesday's extraordinary hearing.
* The Victorian government also backflipped over its controversial call to allow a select group of spectators on course for the 100th running of the Cox Plate, following a public backlash.
* Queensland recorded one new case as the deputy premier played down fears a freight ship north of Brisbane may be carrying a new mystery strain of the virus. Health Minister Steven Miles said it's too early to determine the genomic identification of the strain that infected a crew member aboard MV Sofrana Surville.
* Congregations up to 300 will be allowed at places of worship in NSW from Friday after religious leaders complained about "inconsistent" restrictions. NSW reported 10 new cases, with just two locally acquired and both linked to known clusters.
* South Australia is seeking a reciprocal travel bubble agreement with New Zealand, with Premier Steven Marshall writing to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The state also reported one new infection on Wednesday - a man in his 30s who recently returned from overseas and is in hotel quarantine.
* Western Australia confirmed two members from the Key Integrity bulk carrier have tested positive, including a Filipino crewman in his 40s whose case was recorded in Wednesday's official tally.
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KEY DATES
* October 26 - Tasmania's state of emergency due to expire and people from low-risk states free to enter.
* November 1 - More restrictions due to be eased in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Queensland border reopened to NSW visitors subject to conditions being met.
* November 2 - Residents from NSW could be allowed into Tasmania, with the situation being monitored. Regional Victorian residents allowed to travel to the Northern Territory if case numbers remain low.
* November 6 - Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry report due.
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AUSTRALIAN CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
* There were 16 new cases in Australia - 10 in NSW, three in Victoria, and one each in Queensland, SA and WA.
* The national death toll is 905: Victoria 817, NSW 55, Tasmania 13, WA 9, Queensland 6, SA 4, ACT 3. (Two Queensland residents who died in NSW have been included in the official tolls of both states.)
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GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
* Cases: at least 40,783,000
* Deaths: at least 1,124,000
* Recovered: at least 27,908,000
Data current as of 1700 AEDT October 21, taking in federal and state/territory government updates, Worldometer and Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.
Australian Associated Press
