The number of COVID-19 patients in Victorian hospitals has risen to 946, as the state records 40,127 new cases and 21 deaths.It marks a sharp jump from 861 patients on Tuesday and continues a rising trend in hospitalisations, which have surged by 549 in the past fortnight.Of the COVID-19 patients in hospital, 112 are in intensive care, including 31 patients on ventilators.On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said while the record number of COVID-19 hospital patients was extremely challenging, so far the number of severely ill patients had remained relatively low .The number of active cases has risen to 209,715, although the true number is much higher as testing systems have been overwhelmed for weeks.Of the new cases, 18,434 were reported through at-home rapid antigen tests, with the remainder detected through PCR testing.There were 61,630 PCR test results received on Tuesday, suggesting around one in three people presenting for PCR testing at the moment are infected.
The death toll from the current outbreak has now risen to 792.Roughly 18 per cent of Victorian adults have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.The surging caseload has been causing disruption to supply chains and industries across the nation, as workers quarantine as household contacts or confirmed cases.From 11:59pm, restrictions in Victoria will shift in a bid to balance the need to curb Omicron infections while preserving essential workforces.Under the changes, a third vaccine dose will become mandatory for workers in healthcare, aged care, disability, emergency services, corrections, quarantine accommodation and food distribution industries .
Indoor dancefloors will also be closed and restrictions for visitors to aged care and hospital facilities will change.Aged care residents will be allowed up to five visitors a day, but they must return a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) before entering, while visitors in hospitals must have had two doses of a vaccine or return a negative RAT before entering.Workers in food and drink manufacturing and distribution will be exempt from close contact isolation requirements so they can attend work, if it is necessary to keep operations running and other options have been exhausted.The workers must be asymptomatic and return negative RAT tests for five days, in similar rules already in place for healthcare workers.Video: New Australian COVID-19 cases dip, but hospitalisations rise (Reuters) Vic.govt to hire health students, retired nurses for booster rollout Adelaide Fringe Festival to go ahead despite high Omicron cases Worker shortages flagged as major issue in Australia’s escalating supply chain issues Heavy rain and winds hit NT coast as cyclone approaches 13yo boy fatally stabbed near Gosford on NSW Central Coast Man’s body recovered in Qld floods as search continues for 14 yo girl Health experts say N95 masks are more effective than cloth masks Victoria records 21 deaths with 946 patients in hospital Dr Anthony Fauci clashes with senator at US COVID inquiry Calls for RATs and N95 masks to curb transmission rates Remote communities in NT facing supply issues as Omicron cases rise SA Health looking for self test system for teachers Qld floods claims another victim as search for missing 14yo girl continues Victoria’s health system under pressure as workers forced into isolation NSW businesses call for more support as COVID restrictions reintroduced Sydney’s multicultural community call for more support amid struggle to use rapid COVID tests.