When Omicron cases will peak as Victoria records 34,808 cases

Victoria has recorded 34,808 new Covid infections as the state’s health minister predicts when the Omicron wave will peak.

Victoria has recorded 34,808 new Covid infections as the rampant spread of the virus across the state continues.

Monday’s figures also reveal two more people have died.

But the state’s health minister has warned the peak of the Omicron wave might not be reached for weeks.

“We would expect the peak of those Omicron cases to be in late January or early February,” Martin Foley told reporters on Monday.

“Then of course, the delayed measures of hospitalisations, ICUs, ventilators ... sadly this could lag for a week or two after that.”

The Victorian government has introduced several new restrictions to combat the spread of the virus, including closing dance floors at hospitality venues - weddings excluded.

Visitors to health and aged care settings would also be limited.

About half of the new cases came from rapid antigen tests, which are be recorded online, and the rest from traditional PCR testing.

The new case figure is down on the 44,155 reported on Sunday but the number of people in hospital with Covid has risen from 752 to 818.

The health department said 118 people were in ICU which included both active cases and those who have been cleared of the virus – 28 of those people were ventilated, which was five more than Sunday.

The figures come after Victoria’s Covid Commander said rapid antigen tests were not being handed out “like lollies” and insisted authorities were “not collecting data for the hell of it” as he sought to provide further clarity on the system on Sunday,

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/Xek4hvvXXP

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) January 9, 2022

Jeroen Weimar said as people presented at testing sites, based on their contact status and clinical symptoms, a decision would be made as to whether they were offered a RAT or PCR test.

“We’re not opening up palettes of rapid antigen tests and handing them out like lollies,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“We are asking people who have symptoms and recording basic data. This is still a controlled and clinically managed process.”

About 30,000 free testing kits were given to people who attended testing sites across Victoria on Saturday.

Meanwhile Australia’s struggling hospitality and service industries were described as being “hammered” and were desperate for support from the state and federal governments.

Businesses across NSW and Victoria were “bleeding cash” as hundreds of thousands of customers and workers were either forced into isolation because they either have the virus or required testing because they were deemed a close contact.

Covid cases dropped in Victoria overnight but more people were hospitalised. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

But tests RATs were hard to come by.

In extreme circumstances, some residents are even refusing to leave the house other than when absolutely necessary in a self-imposed lockdown over fears of catching the virus.

The hospitality sector has warned some businesses won’t be able to hold on much longer under the current conditions.

NSW recorded 20,293 Covid cases on Monday which was a drop on previous days where case numbers exceeded 30,000.

Originally published as When Omicron cases will peak as Victoria records 34,808 cases