Number of Covid deaths in last three months revealed, as figures show how many were unvaxxed

Covid cases are continuing to soar, with authorities revealing how many Victorians have recently died and when the latest wave may peak.

More than 670 Victorians have died of Covid in the last three months, with an average of seven deaths each day in the past week.

And the state’s latest Covid wave - increasingly driven by a mutant, “recombinant” strain of other Omicron variants - is yet to peak.

Of the 671 recent deaths in Victoria, 47.4 per cent of people had not received their third Covid vaccine dose and 39.2 per cent were completely unvaccinated, new figures reveal.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said on Friday 46 Covid deaths had been reported over the past week, but in good news the monthly death toll was 33 per cent lower than the previous month.

A total of 20,398 Covid cases had been reported in Victoria throughout the week, an increase of 22.8 per cent on the previous week, he said.

The average daily number of new cases this week was 2,914, up from 2,377 last week,

and the number of active cases in Victoria on Friday was 18,150, up from 15,653 the same time last week, Prof Sutton said.

There had also been a 28.5 per cent increase in the number of Victorians hospitalised with Covid this week, when compared with last week, and 16 patients were in intensive care, with three on a ventilator.

Victoria’s Covid wave will likely get worse before it gets better. Picture: David Crosling

Over the past three months, 3,200 Covid patients had been hospitalised in Victoria, with 41.9 per cent of those people not having received their third vaccine dose and 30 per cent completely unvaccinated, Prof Sutton said.

“Covid-19 hospitalisation and case numbers have increased for a fifth consecutive week in Victoria,” he said.

“It is expected these rates will continue to increase for several weeks and likely peak around early December.

“Indications from Singapore and western Europe suggest this wave may pass relatively quickly, although differing local conditions may have an impact.

“There are simple things people can do now to reduce transmission and protect the community. Wear a well-fitting mask, get your booster dose, let fresh air in, get tested and report your RAT result, stay at home if you have Covid and talk to your doctor to see if you’re eligible for Covid medication.”

The growth in cases and hospitalisations in Victoria was being driven by multiple emerging Omicron subvariants, including BQ.1.1, Prof Sutton said.

Vaccination boosters are helping keep Victorians out of hospital and from dying of Covid. Picture: Getty Images

A new BA.2.75/BA.5 recombinant, XBF, had been identified in Victoria through wastewater and clinical genomic surveillance.

“The recombinant has shown significant growth in Victoria in the last four weeks to more than 10 per cent of sequenced cases,” he said.

“There is currently no evidence to suggest these subvariants, including XBF, cause more severe disease. However, hospitalisation rates are likely increasing due to significantly waned immunity from past vaccination and the ability of new subvariants to escape immunity from past infection.

“There is now strong evidence antiviral treatment and up-to-date vaccinations can keep people out of hospital and ultimately reduce the pressures on the health system.”

Anti-viral medication had been shown to dramatically reduce the liklihood of hospitalisation and death in Victorians aged over 70 with Covid, Prof Sutton said.