Yesterday, 8,433 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services. The total number of doses administered through state-run services is 4,901,647.
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 364 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria – 80 active cases in ICU, with 44 of those on a ventilator. There are an additional 39 cleared cases in ICU. Of those in hospital yesterday, 61 per cent were not fully vaccinated, while 94 per cent of those in ICU were not fully vaccinated. Of those admitted to ICU during December, 69 per cent were aged over 50. Of those, 74 per cent were not fully vaccinated.
Victoria was notified of 1,189 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All cases were locally acquired. The 10 Local Government areas with the highest number of new cases are Hume, Moreland, Casey, Whittlesea, Mornington Peninsula, Wyndham, Brimbank, Greater Dandenong, Melton and Glen Eira.
All locations containing new cases will be published today at Victorian COVID-19 data.
There are 11,051 active cases in Victoria. The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 138,409.
Sadly, the Department was notified yesterday of six deaths of people aged in their 50s, 70s, and 80s. This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 1,424.
54,467 COVID-19 tests were processed yesterday. The total number of tests performed in Victoria since the pandemic began is 16,052,349.
There are currently more than 29,100 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria.
Updates
Omicron cases under investigation
Three new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant have been identified in Victoria, all of which are linked to flight arriving in Melbourne from Dubai on November 30.
Two of the new positive cases are returned travellers who were on the flight. The other new case is a household contact of a previously confirmed case.
This brings to six the number of confirmed cases in total.
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.
