Yesterday, 3,266 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services. The total number of doses administered through state-run services is 4,893,183.
94.2 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 92.1 per cent have had two doses. This excludes the most recent Commonwealth data.
There are 323 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria – 77 active cases in ICU, with 40 of those on a ventilator. There are an additional 39 cleared cases in ICU.
Victoria was notified of 1,290 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All cases were locally acquired. The 10 Local Government areas with the highest number of new cases are Casey, Hume, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Moreland, Melton, Monash, Greater Dandenong, Brimbank and Kingston.
All locations containing new cases will be published today at Victorian COVID-19 data.
There are 11,649 active cases in Victoria. The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 137,227.
Sadly, the Department was notified yesterday of two deaths of people aged in their 80s and 90s. This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 1,418.
55,122 COVID-19 tests were processed yesterday. The total number of tests performed in Victoria since the pandemic began is 15,997,882.
Testing remains vital and we thank Victorians for continuing to get tested in such strong numbers. We’ve increased testing capacity by 55 per cent since October, with 259 sites operating across the state, including six new mass testing centres and additional lanes at existing drive through sites.
We know the morning is the busiest time for testing, which is why we’re now opening sites earlier to cater for the morning peak.
There are currently more than 28,700 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria.
Updates
Omicron cases under investigation
There are no new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Victoria.
There remain three confirmed cases in total. One of the positive cases is a returned traveller who was previously identified with the Omicron variant while in Hotel Quarantine. The other two cases sat together in the same row on a flight that landed in Melbourne from Dubai on 30 November.
Genomic sequencing is also underway to confirm the variant for nine other probable cases who have tested positive for COVID-19.
All Victorians can play their part in reducing the spread of Omicron – or any other variant – by getting tested the moment they notice symptoms or as soon as they are told they are a contact, and practising COVIDSafe behaviours such as wearing masks, physical distancing and checking in.
Third dose booster interval reduced
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended a five-month interval between second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, reduced from six months.
The Commonwealth is leading the national COVID-19 booster dose program with support from the states and territories. While booster doses are available through state-run vaccination centres, the Commonwealth expects the majority of doses to be delivered through GPs and community pharmacies.
We encourage everyone to come forward to get their COVID-19 booster shot so you can continue to protect your family, friends and the broader community.
