Source: ABCnews
The number of patients with COVID-19 in Victorian hospitals has risen to 644, as the state records 21,728 new cases and six further deaths.
The hospitalisations are the highest in the state since early November, and include 58 patients in ICU, 24 of whom are on ventilators.
A further 48 patients whose infections are no longer active are still receiving care in ICU.
There are now 69,680 active cases of the virus in Victoria, and 743 people have died during the current outbreak.
The new cases were detected from 68,202 test results processed yesterday, with the test positivity rate sitting around 32 per cent.
The true number of infections is much higher, with one in 50 Victorians estimated to be currently infected with the virus.
Around 13 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and older have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
There were 20,726 doses of vaccine administered at state-run sites yesterday, and more vaccinations at GP clinics and other venues.LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic
From this afternoon, Victorians will be asked to lodge positive at-home rapid antigen test (RAT) results on the health department’s website.
A positive result on a RAT will be treated the same way as a positive laboratory PCR test result, with the person required to isolate for a week and notify close contacts.
