However, Horsham now has more active cases than some major regional centres, as case numbers in regional Victoria continue to decline.

There are three reported cases in the Horsham Rural City Council local government area.

There are no reported active cases in any other shire in the Wimmera, the Northern Grampians or Ararat.

Ballarat and Bendigo - both once major areas of concern for the state government - have one active case, and two active COVID-19 cases, respectively.

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It's important to remember, however, case numbers in both those cities were once consistently in double digits, and there were concerns around community transmission.

Also, in a credit to community members and local authorities, case numbers in the Wimmera have remained steady for some time.

The swing in numbers between the centres challenges the perception that regional cases numbers are being bumped up by the major centres with bigger populations.

The highest number of active cases at one time in Horsham was seven, which lasted from July 24 to August 3.

There have now been 13 total cases - including recovered - in the municipality.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Regional Victoria drops below 14-day average case threshold

The most recent active case in Horsham was reported last Friday, after a resident welcomed a visitor from Melbourne.

Before that, the local government area went 15 days with only two reported active cases.

Before Friday, the last change to local figures was on August 19, when the number of active cases dropped from three to two, and the total number of cases increased from 11 to 12.

MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE WIMMERA:

No new cases were reported in regional Victoria today, with 85 active cases currently in regional local government areas.

In regional Victoria, the average 14-day daily caseload needs to drop below five in order to advance to the 'third step'.

Today's daily average case number in regional Victoria is 4.9

The regions must also last 14 days without a mystery case in order to advance to the third step.

The government has not released any data on mystery cases in regional Victoria as yet.

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