Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tests positive for Covid

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has tested positive for Covid and will stand aside from the top job while he is in isolation.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has tested positive for Covid and will stand aside from the top job for the next week while he isolates.

Mr Andrews said he developed mild symptoms on Monday morning, including a sore throat and mild temperature.

“I undertook a rapid antigen test. I have tested positive to Covid, and will now isolate for the next seven days,” he said in a statement.

Mr Andrews said he is isolating at his home in Melbourne.

I woke up today with some symptoms and did a RAT before heading to the office. It was positive.

Cath and the kids are negative, but as close contacts will isolate with me for seven days. pic.twitter.com/V2d3RUjvOE

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) March 28, 2022

The premier said his wife, Cath, and children, Joseph, Grace and Noah, had tested negative but would isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.

He took to Twitter to say his family had stocked up on Panadol and he would be spending the week “resting up”.

Mr Andrews and his family attended the premiere of Hamilton in at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne on Thursday evening.

Deputy Premier James Merlino will be Acting Premier for the next week.

Premier Daniel Andrews and his family attended the premiere of Hamilton in Melbourne on Thursday before he tested positive to Covid-19. Picture: Mark Stewart

Victoria recorded 8739 new community infections of Covid-19 on Monday, however the premier’s result will be included in Tuesday’s figures.

There are 252 people in hospital with the virus, including 21 in ICU and six on ventilators.

The state is currently managing almost 57,000 active cases, the majority of which were detected on at-home rapid antigen tests.

Originally published as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tests positive for Covid