Omicron infections ‘roaring up’ as daily cases soar in Victoria
Victoria’s Health Minister has confirmed a massive surge in Omicron infections is behind the state’s daily case record.
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A surge in Omicron infections is behind Victoria’s daily Covid case record, the state’s Health Minister has confirmed.
Martin Foley made the admission on Friday morning after 5919 new cases and seven virus deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours.
The figure is the state’s highest daily tally since the pandemic began.
He said the more infectious strain had rapidly spread since arriving in Victoria earlier this month.
“That number has roared up from very little last week and is expected that the majority of cases will by Omicron very shortly,” he said.
There are now 428 infected people in Victorian hospitals, with 54 active in intensive care and 21 on ventilators.
More than 93 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state has 28,8044 active cases.
A total of 66,744 tests were taken on Wednesday and 3798 vaccines were administered at state hubs.
In NSW, 21,151 new cases were recorded on Friday, along with six Covid deaths.
The figure is the highest daily tally of any state since the pandemic began.
There are 763 in hospital with the virus across NSW, 69 of whom are in intensive care.
A total of 148,410 tests conducted in NSW the past 24 hours.
It comes as scorching temperatures are set to force the closure of some Victorian testing sites across the New Year’s period.
The impending move is expected to cause chaos for the already embattled system that has tested hundreds of thousands of people over the past week as Covid infections soar.
Victoria’s Department of Health gave the warning on Thursday, noting testing centres operating from outdoor tents would be the most likely affected.
Temperature inside the tents can rise as much as 10 degrees higher than outside in addition to staff working in full PPE.
The mercury is expected to hit 36C in Melbourne on New Year’s Eve. January 1 also set to be a scorcher with highs of 35C predicted.
Originally published as Omicron infections ‘roaring up’ as daily cases soar in Victoria
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