Victoria records 21,966 new Covid cases as government buys more rapid antigen tests

Victoria has recorded 21,966 new Covid cases and 15 deaths as authorities made a major announcement about rapid antigen tests.

Victoria will receive tens of millions more rapid antigen tests in a bid to place pressure on the health system.

It comes after more than 4.5 million extra tests landed in Victoria earlier this week.

Health services have been prioritised to receive the tests, with dozens of community organisations also receiving the crucial kits.

“This is about cutting of chains of transmission,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“And when you combine that with people isolating, that is how we limit or at least impact the number of cases that we have across the community.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said more rapid antigen tests would ease pressure on the system. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria recorded 21,966 new Covid cases on Thursday along with 15 deaths and 1206 hospitalisations.

Of those in Victorian hospitals, 122 were in intensive care, including 40 on a ventilator.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews this week called the strain being placed on the state’s health system as “unavoidable” after a code brown was enforced.

“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.”

The strain facing the state’s health system has been called “unavoidable” Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The state this week slashed the time needed between booster shots in a bid to address the crisis and ease the pressure on the system.

Victorians are now eligible for their third dose if it has been three months since their last Covid vaccine.

Melbourne hospitals are being inundated with Covid patients in the current outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The Premier said the third dose could soon become mandatory in the state.

The numbers of Victorians who have received two doses currently stands at 93 per cent.

“I think we’re very close to a change in policy that will simply reflect the fact that in order to be fully protected you need to have three doses,” Mr Andrews said.

“To be fully protected, to be fully vaccinated, to have fully played your part, you need three doses.

“I don’t rule out there being other groups that become the subject of a mandate.”

Originally published as Victoria records 21,966 new Covid cases as government buys more rapid antigen tests