Victoria records 3 new Omicron cases among 1622 cases

Victoria has recorded three more cases of Omicron as the state’s Covid-19 mask rules come under fire.

Three new Omicron cases have been identified in Victoria, health officials have confirmed.

All of the new Omicron cases are recent international arrivals in quarantine.

It comes after a person with the new variant tested visited two Melbourne nightspots, The Peel Hotel and Sircuit Bar, at the weekend, plunging several hundred people and two businesses into isolation.

The Department of Health is investigating seven confirmed Covid cases linked to the scare to see if any of the new cases has the new variant.

Victoria recorded 1622 new Covid-19 cases and nine more deaths in the past 24 hours.

It is the highest number of daily infections since the state posted 1612 cases on October 11.

State officials have backtracked on a major Covid restriction, keeping masks mandatory in all retail settings from Thursday.

The state government went back on the promise on Wednesday over concerns the new Omicron variant was spreading rapidly in the community.

Face masks will no longer be required at weddings, funerals or ceremonial settings.

Health Minister Martin Foley says the government needs to gather more information about the new variant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

Health Minister Martin Foley said the government needed to gather more information about the new variant before considering further changes to restrictions, particularly the mask requirements.

“Omicron has changed the landscape,” he said.

“Everything is of course subject to epidemiological conditions at the time, while we figure out exactly the best and rigorous advice, we just need to tread carefully and cautiously.”

But Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says the government must “honour their deal with the Victorian public” on mask-wearing.

More than 700 people were ordered into quarantine after officials confirmed an Omicron case visited two popular Melbourne nightclubs.

A person with the strain visited Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy between 9pm and about midnight on Friday before heading to The Peel Hotel in Collingwood between 11.30pm and 3am.

Originally published as Victoria records 3 new Omicron cases among 1622 cases