Victoria records 1069 new local cases of coronavirus, ten deaths

Victoria has recorded 1069 new local Covid cases on Tuesday as health officials roll out some key changes to schools battling outbreaks.

Victoria recorded 1069 new locally acquired Covid-19 infections on Tuesday and 10 more deaths.

There are 579 Victorians in hospital — 90 of those are in intensive care and 55 are on a ventilator.

A total of 47,794 tests were processed on Monday.

About 84 per cent of Victorians aged older than 12 were fully vaccinated and 91.8 per cent had received their first jab.

It comes as the state government starts to roll out rapid antigen testing kits to 20 Victorian schools impacted by Covid-19 outbreaks.

Deputy premier James Merlino said the at-home testing kits would this week be administered to 20 schools currently battling coronavirus infections, before being rolled out to other government and independent schools from November 15.

Deputy premier James Merlino says rapid antigen testing kits will this week be administered to 20 schools currently battling coronavirus infections. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

The tests would be offered to unvaccinated students – primarily those aged under 12 – who were primary close contacts as a result of a positive case at school.

Mr Merlino said the program would allow them to return to school after seven days of quarantine, rather than 14 days, provided they returned a negative PCR test on day six, and then a negative rapid antigen test result at home each day on days eight to 14 of their quarantine period.

“For kids and their families who are excited to get back to school, having to quarantine can be really frustrating – these rapid antigen tests will cut that time and get kids back in the classroom sooner,” he said on Monday.

“This is another way we’re making learning as COVIDSafe as possible while keeping schools open.”

Students returned to the classrooms full time for the remainder of term four at the start of November after months of remote learning.

The state government will hand out 200,000 rapid antigen tests this week, with more to arrive each week afterwards.

Meanwhile NSW has recorded 222 new local coronavirus cases as sections of a regional airport was declared an exposure site.

People who were at Newcastle Airport on Monday and Wednesday last week were asked to get tested for coronavirus and self-isolate until receiving a negative result.

NSW Health said an infected person had visited the check-in hall, security screening and departure lounge facilities on Monday, November 1 between 1.13pm and 2pm.

On November 3, an infected person had visited the arrivals hall and male toilets shortly after 1pm.

Originally published as Victoria records 1069 new local cases of coronavirus, ten deaths