Source: ABCnews
Victoria has recorded 1,438 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and five further deaths.
The deaths bring the total from this outbreak to 41.
The new cases were detected from 65,497 test results processed on Wednesday.
It is a sharp increase from the 950 recorded a day earlier and 867 a day before that.
It once again takes the number of active infections across the state to a new record high, with 11,018 people currently recovering from COVID-19.
During the state’s deadly second wave, the number of active cases peaked at 6,717.
The soaring numbers have occurred despite the state locking down almost immediately after the first cases were detected in this outbreak.
The spread in this outbreak is being attributed to the highly infectious Delta strain, transmission within large households, and illegal household-to-household contact.
The virus has continued to transmit outside of locked-down Melbourne, Mitchell Shire and City of Latrobe.
The rising case numbers are in line with projections for the months ahead, with new infections and hospitalisations still about a month away from their expected peak.
Contact tracers are also under increasing pressure and changes have been made to the interview process to keep up with the thousands of cases and their close contacts.
The surge is already putting strain on a stretched healthcare system, and pressure is expected to mount until greater vaccination coverage is reached.
“Fellow Victorians, I know news of 1,438 new cases and five deaths is not easy to hear,” Karen Price, the president of the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners, said.
“Please remember, if you have any health concerns consult with your GP right away. If you’re eligible to be vaccinated and still haven’t received your vaccine — do so now. Don’t delay.”
The latest data shows 79.4 per cent of Victorians aged 16+ had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Tuesday, and 49.1 per cent had been fully vaccinated.
Not counted in those targets are children aged 12 to 15, but it was yesterday revealed 40 per cent of that cohort has now had at least one dose.
That number was achieved in just 17 days, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
The Federal Government has announced extra financial support for Victorian businesses affected by COVID restrictions, which will no longer be available once 80 per cent of those aged 16+ are fully vaccinated.
It’s projected Victoria will reach that vaccination milestone in early November.
