Victoria reports 860 cases of coronavirus and five deaths

Victoria has reported a huge drop in Covid-19 cases as the state nears another major vaccination milestone.

The Victorian health department says more than 87 per cent of Victorian residents aged over 12 have now had two doses of a Covid vaccine. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Victoria has reported 860 new Covid-19 cases and five deaths from the virus on Monday.

The number of new daily infections has fallen by 361 in two days and the average daily case rate over the last seven days has dipped to 444.

There were 1221 new cases reported on Saturday and 905 infections reported on Sunday, as more than 48,000 people got tested for the virus.

As of Monday there are 17,518 active cases in the state, with 378 people in hospital.

There are 149 people in intensive care, 48 of whom require ventilation.

Victorian health officials say 71 of the people in ICU have Covid infections that are no longer considered active.

Large crowds descended on Melbourne’s city centre over the weekend to protest against vaccine mandates and Victoria’s proposed pandemic laws, with another rally expected on Monday.

Protesters gathered in Melbourne over the weekend for rallies against the state government's proposed pandemic laws. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that private hospitals can resume non-urgent elective surgery at 50 per cent their usual capacity. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The health department says more than 87 per cent of Victorian residents aged over 12 had now had two doses of a Covid vaccine.

Restrictions are set to be eased further once 90 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over are double dose vaccinated, which is anticipated to be on November 24

Gathering limits, capacity and density limits will no longer apply when state hits that threshold.

Private hospitals and day surgeries in Melbourne and Geelong can resume performing elective surgeries at 50 per cent their normal capacity from Monday.

These hospitals can also restart non-urgent surgeries, provided they leave space for potential non-Covid patients to free up beds at public hospitals for people with the virus.

The Victorian health department says more than 87 per cent of Victorian residents aged over 12 have now had two doses of a Covid vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the change on Thursday, saying private hospitals and day procedures would continue to prioritise time-critical and urgent procedures.

The Victorian government on Monday said it would spend $2.5 million on community programs to support increased vaccine uptake as the state approaches the 90 per cent double dose threshold.

The government says the funding will assist vulnerable groups, such as people living with disability, young people, seniors, multicultural communities, social housing residents and victim survivors of family violence.

Eligible community organisations and neighbourhood houses are invited to apply for up to $20,000 to deliver support to make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated or reduce vaccine misinformation.

Meanwhile, 165 new cases of Covid were recorded in NSW overnight to Monday while one person died from the virus.

Originally published as Victoria reports 860 cases of coronavirus and five deaths