Daniel Andrews admits Victorian hospital pressure is ‘unavoidable’ after code brown declared

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has made his first comments about the state’s hospital ‘code brown’ crisis as Omicron puts the system under strain.

People seen at the COVID-19 testing site in Albert Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has acknowledged the “unprecedented pressure” on the state’s health system, revealing the key to overcoming the current outbreak.

Victoria recorded 20,769 new Covid cases on Tuesday – a day after authorities declared a code brown for the state’s hospitals.

In Victoria, 18 people died from the virus overnight with 1173 currently hospitalised.

While authorities this week revealed a peak of the current outbreak is in sight, hospitalisations are expected to rise dramatically in the coming weeks amid a healthcare shortage of thousands and thousands of workers.

“It is very, very challenging at the moment – the system is under unique and unprecedented pressure, it is unavoidable in every way,” Mr Andrews said.

“This virus has infected, or has isolated literally thousands and thousands of health workers, and people are doing the best that they can.”

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/OCCFTAcOZP#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/22rfWPayjr

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) January 18, 2022

The state government on Tuesday declared a code brown for all metropolitan and six regional hospitals, with extreme pressure expected to be placed on the health system over the next month.

It means all but the most essential and urgent medical care will be deferred, workers might have leave postponed and other staff will be redeployed to potentially different roles and departments.

It’s expected the measure will last for around four to six weeks.

Mr Andrews said it had been a “difficult, but necessary decision” for authorities to make.

“But that’s how we’ll get to the peak of these Omicron cases and then come down the other side of that and resume the services that have had to be paused at the moment,” he said.”

Hospitalisations are expected to rise in Victoria in the coming weeks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

The government on Wednesday announced Victorians would now be able to get a booster dose within three months of their second dose, reducing the time frame between jabs.

The decision means 1.2 million more Victorians are now eligible for their booster.

The change was planned for the end of the month but has been brought forward as the state continues to battle Omicron.

The state will likely reach its outbreak peak soon. Picture: Tony Gough

Hospitalisations have been on a steady increase in Victoria since the variant emerged in December.

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said it was important people made sure they were vaccinated to ease pressure on the system.

“Those hospital numbers are going to increase, there’s a lag compared to our daily case numbers and over the next few weeks we will see hospital numbers go up,” he said.

“We really need to make sure we’re protecting each and every single person who is eligible for a booster to avoid hospital.”

Originally published as Daniel Andrews admits Victorian hospital pressure is ‘unavoidable’ after code brown declared