Victoria has fully vaccinated more than 90 per cent of its 12+ population.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Source:ABCnews
Victoria has recorded 1,419 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths, as Health Minister Martin Foley has flagged he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Omicron variant was already circulating in the state.
There are now 12,728 active cases of the virus in Victoria, and 527 people have died during the current Delta outbreak.
The health department yesterday removed a duplicate death from previous reporting.
There are now 288 people in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 41 are in intensive care and 20 are on a ventilator.
The health department said a further 50 people were in intensive care but their infections were no longer considered active.
The new cases were detected from 70,343 test results received yesterday.
There were 4,019 doses of vaccine administered at state-run sites yesterday, as well as more vaccinations at GP clinics and other venues.
Omicron variant may already be ‘ticking along’ in Victoria
Health Minister Martin Foley said so far there had been no Omicron variant COVID-19 cases detected in Victoria.
The state increased its quarantine requirements for international arrivals in response to the global emergence of the variant, which scientists are still working to fully understand.
“We wouldn’t be surprised, given the arrangements that we’ve seen in New South Wales and around the globe, that it [the Omicron variant] might well be ticking along out there at the moment, but there’s been no cases reported so far,” Mr Foley said.
The minister said he was “hopeful” the state’s controversial pandemic bill would be cleared through parliament later today, after a marathon sitting of the upper house earlier this week to debate amendments.
“That will give us a framework to keep Victoria open and keep Victoria safe,” Mr Foley said.
The bill, which gives legal power to all Victorian pandemic measures, must return to the upper house to be voted on this morning, before going back to the lower house and being sent to the upper house for a final time.
