Victoria records 1750 new Covid cases on first day out of lockdown

Victorian testing chief Jeroen Weimar has revealed three in four active cases are among one key group.

Victoria has recorded 1750 new Covid cases and nine deaths after the state’s first full day out of lockdown.

There are now 770 people in hospital with Covid-19 across the state, including 144 people in ICU.

The new infections recorded overnight have brought the state’s total active cases to 23,164.

But one group of Victorians is experiencing more infections with the virus than anyone else.

Twenty nine per cent of all Covid-19 new cases yesterday were in Victorians under the age of 19.

Children aged under 12 remain ineligible for any Covid-19 vaccine available in Australia.

In Victoria’s Metro areas, two-thirds of all positive cases are now under 40. In regional areas, three quarters of cases are under 40.

“I call out to the young Victorians amongst us that you are particularly vulnerable at this point in time,” Victorian Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar said.

“You’re running into friends and associates who are Covid positive so take every care to make sure you don't become one of those statistics.”

Victoria’s Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar said young people were disproportionately represented in the new case numbers. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

In Victoria’s Metro areas, two-thirds of all positive cases are now under 40. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Victorian’s living in regional areas are also becoming increasingly affected by the virus.

Over 14 per cent of the new cases recorded yesterday were in regional LGAs.

“This is a significant increase over recent days,” Mr Weimar said.

Latrobe City and the Albury-Wodonga area are particular areas of concern, experiencing a sharp rise in cases yesterday.

More than 72 per cent of Victorians have now received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

There are now 440,000 second doses left to before the state reaches 80 per cent double-dosed.

“We want to get those 440,000 as quickly as we can over the days ahead,” Mr Weimar said.

“It’s really charging into the 80 per cent per cent double vaccination milestone as quickly as possible.”

We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.

Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.

More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/Vsg0GUJGPP

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 22, 2021

Melbourne emerged from 262 days of lockdown at 12.01am on Friday, with Saturday morning’s virus figures a drop on the day before.

Revellers hit the streets for a pub meal and a haircut after Melbourne emerged from the world’s longest lockdown.

Lockdowns lifted after the state hit its 70 per cent double dose vaccination target.

A proud Daniel Andrews congratulated Victorians on getting through lockdown 6.0 and urged everyone to “get out there”.

“I‘m trying not to sound like some kind of soppy Dad here, but I am proud, bloody proud of this state,” he said.

“We‘ve gone through such a hard time together, this pandemic has been exhausting in every sense of the word.”

Originally published as Victoria records 1750 new Covid cases on first day out of lockdown