New rules for Victoria as one cohort caught up in surging case numbers

One group is catching the latest virulent strain of Covid-19 more than any other as Victoria announces a fresh round of restrictions.

Density limits have been imposed on Victorian venues as Covid case numbers surge, with one cohort largely responsible for the spike.

Health Minister Martin Foley announced the changes on Thursday after more than 20,000 new cases were recorded in the state.

From midnight, a density rule of one person per 2sq m will be enforced at indoor venues, excluding cinemas and theatres.

This is similar to NSW rules announced before the new year.

“We think this is a sensible change particularly in the face of the continued huge growth of transmission particularly among young people,” Mr Foley told reporters.

Victorian Health Minister, Martin Foley announced new density limits on Victoria’s indoor entertainment and hospitality venues on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

He said more than 40 per cent of Wednesday’s positive cases were people in their 20s and there were signs the numbers were “overwhelmingly” from hospitality and similar environments.

He also said there was a “strong recommendation” for people to avoid indoor dance floors and work from home during the spread of the virulent Omicron strain.

“The interaction in those hospitality and entertainment venues is close, crowded, active and mobile, it’s what young people do, and we don’t begrudge them that. These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that activity can continue,” Mr Foley said.

He also announced changes to the state’s testing Covid testing system from midnight after signing new pandemic orders.

“Essentially, this new category, based on the rapid antigen test, will be the same in the system as if you were diagnosed through the PCR system,” Mr Foley said.

Acting chief health officer Ben Cowie explained the switch from PCR tests to rapid antigen tests in Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

It would mean people would be entitled and have to abide by the same obligations as those who were diagnosed using the other test method, including a seven-day isolation period, he explained.

The goal is to ensure people spend less time at testing centres and focus on isolating and recovering from Covid.

For people who test positive on a rapid antigen test it is also mandatory for them to report their results to the health department using a hotline or online form available from Friday, the state’s acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said.

“It’s clearly time to recognise that a positive rapid antigen test has the same authority as a PCR test,” Professor Cowie said.

The state reported 21,997 cases and six more deaths on Thursday.

Figures show there were 64,861 tests carried out in the past 24 hours, which means one in three people tested are returning positive results.

There are 631 people in hospital with the virus and 100 in intensive care units, including 22 on ventilators.

That is up from 591 Covid patients in hospital the previous day, but there are fewer people in intensive care.

Good luck if you’re ever in one of these long Covid testing queues. NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan announced the vaccination booking system for children aged five to 11 would open after a technical glitch previously halted the launch earlier this week.

Children will be able to get vaccinated at 18 state-run centres from next week.

The state government has also secured an extra 10 million rapid antigen tests on top of an existing order of 34 million to help battle Covid-19 as it sweeps the state.

It’s expected 700,000 rapid antigen tests would arrive in Victoria in the “next day or so”, Mr Foley confirmed on Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announced rapid antigen tests would be free for more than six million Australians while warning there would be heavy penalties for price gouging.