Victoria records 1254 new local cases of coronavirus

Victoria has recorded 1254 new Covid-19 infections as the state finally reaches a major vaccine target.

Victoria recorded 1254 new Covid-19 cases and five more deaths on Thursday as the state officially reaches its 90 per cent double-dose vaccine target.

There are now 310 infected Victorians in hospital, with 48 in active intensive care units and 31 on a ventilator.

About 90 per cent of people older than 12 are fully vaccinated, in a major vaccine milestone for the state.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the “amazing achievement” on Thursday morning.

“Well done Victoria, fantastic stuff,” he tweeted.

“Victorians have done it tougher than anyone over the past two years … Victorians have earned every freedom they now once again enjoy -let‘s keep going, Australia!”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed a raft of new freedoms last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Victoria‘s health department rejected claims Covid-19 testing sites were being scaled back, amid reports waiting times had blown out to up to five hours.

A worker from one of the testing stations told 3AW that his site – which once operated from 8am until 8pm – had been reduced to just 9am to 5pm.

With more movement across the state the number of Covid-19 exposure sites had soared, also resulting in many Victorians needing to get tested after being deemed a close contact.

“We’ve spent two years telling people to go get tested and now we have opened up, we’ve got school kids who need to be tested constantly, people going back to work, people who are returning travellers who need to be tested,“ the testing worker told 3AW on Thursday.

“We’ve increased the amount of people who need to be tested and are trying to cram them into less time.”

Victoria‘s health department rejected claims that Covid-19 testing sites were being scaled back. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

But the Department of Health insists there is “no current plans” to wind down operating hours across the more than 200 testing sites.

In a bid to cater for morning demand, particularly from families, operating hours at state-run drive through testing sites had been adjusted from 7am to 7pm, instead of 8am to 8pm.

But the Department acknowledged testing sites would divert people to nearby sites “in limited cases”.

In excess of 70,000 people are being tested across the network on average, with the most recent Turn Around Time (TAT) report revealing Victoria was exceeding national benchmarks.

Just under 91 per cent of tests were turned around within 24 hours.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday said he was not aware of delays across the network.

Thursday’s new cases was an increase on the 1196 new infections recorded on Wednesday.

Victoria had earmarked a raft of new freedoms to be triggered once the state hit 90 per cent, but the new rules were already relaxed late last week.

Victorians woke a new round of freedoms on Friday, including the scrapping of density limits for hospitality, concerts and events with double-dosed attendees.

Well done Victoria, fantastic stuff! Victorians have done it tougher than anyone over the past two years and reaching the 90% double dose vaccination milestone is an amazing achievement. Victorians have earned every freedom they now once again enjoy - let's keep going, Australia! pic.twitter.com/HqOTzi35mm

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 24, 2021

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed the host of changes on Thursday, saying “almost all” restrictions had now ended.

Originally published as Victoria records 1254 new local cases of coronavirus