Victoria records 9785 cases as rapid tests for school students under review

Daniel Andrews has warned international arrivals will have to be triple vaccinated to attend most public places in Victoria.

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Daniel Andrews has warned international travellers could be required to have three jabs to participate in the state’s vaccinated economy.

It comes despite the commonwealth government flagging that only two vaccine doses would be required as a condition of entry to the country.

At present, people need to have two doses to attend most public places in Victoria.

But the Premier on Tuesday confirmed Victoria’s vaccinated economy — which could be extended to three doses depending on advice from ATAGI — would also apply to international arrivals.

The Premier’s revelation comes despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday confirming people entering the country from overseas would only need to be double jabbed.

“It will be two doses ... There are various arrangements around the world regarding third doses. And so two doses, the chief medical officer, advises will be sufficient,” he said.

The definition of a fully vaccinated Australian is likely to change from two shots to three, with state leaders set to meet with the Prime Minister for a National Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Premier Daniel Andrews says international arrivals into Victoria will have to be triple-vaccinated. Picture: David Crosling

“I’m sure the commonwealth government will reserve the right to change the view based on advice that comes from experts,” Mr Andrews said.

“ATAGI must be getting very, very close to making that decision.”

Mr Andrews has been consistent in his plans to extend the vaccinated economy, which will mandate the third dose — or booster jab — to be allowed to visit most public places.

“As far as those who get into the country, and the circumstances in which they get into the country, I think we’ve well established (that),” he said.

“(But the three dose mandate for international travellers) It’ll apply here in the state of Victoria.”

It comes as Victoria recorded 9785 Covid cases and 20 deaths on Tuesday.

There are now 575 infected people in Victorian hospitals, with 72 in intensive care and 30 on ventilators.

Victoria’s pre-Omicron peak for Covid hospitalisations was 851 in October when the state was battling a surge in Delta infections.

More than 93 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state has 58,449 active cases.

FREE RAPID TESTING EXPANDED FOR KIDS

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews revealed free rapid antigen testing would be expanded to kinders and childcare over the next week to ten days.

Rapid tests will be given to all kids aged between three and five who attend early childhood education services.

More than 1.6 million rapid antigen tests will be delivered to early childhood settings in the coming weeks for families to conduct voluntary twice-weekly testing.

Sessional kindergartens will receive their deliveries over the next two weeks, followed by other early childhood services like long day care, family day care and occasional care.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the “highly recommended” program would help detect cases as more children return to the classroom.

“This is all about giving parents peace of mind,” Mr Andrews said.

He said families would be provided with medical guidance on how to easily administer the nasal tests to young children. More than 940,000 rapid tests have already been delivered to all staff working in early childhood settings.

Free rapid antigen testing will be available for children afted three to five years in kinder and childcare. Picture: iStock

Education Minister James Merlino said 943,000 rapid tests were already being supplied to staff in Victoria’s kindergarten and childcare.

Mr Merlino said no school had yet been forced to close their doors or go to remote learning due to a Covid outbreak since schools returned in 2022. He said teachers and students had reported that the twice-weekly testing was providing confidence to everyone.

It comes after revelations the twice-weekly rapid tests recommended for the state’s school students could be scrapped within weeks.

Outbreaks in the school system remained stable after the first week of classes.

Victoria on Monday reported 8275 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths.

Over the weekend, 607 students along with 231 staff ­reported positive results.

Since school began, about 800 employees have been ­infected, representing about 1 per cent of the workforce, however, no schools have closed as a result of outbreaks.

Rapid antigen tests may be scrapped for schoolchildren within weeks. Picture: Ian Currie

Education Minister James Merlino said the government had expected increases in daily case numbers once school ­resumed, and would continue to monitor the situation.

“That’s why we’ll be delivering, and are delivering, 14 million rapid antigen tests for the first four weeks of term to make sure we get to cases early,” he said.

But Mr Merlino said the recommendation that children take rapid tests twice a week would also be under review ­before the end of this time.

“We will obviously have discussions about that,” he said.

“We haven’t made a call yet, whether we’ll wrap up surveillance testing after four weeks or whether we’ll continue it.

“But that is part of active discussions that we’re having right now.”

Mr Merlino said that by Tuesday, 50 per cent of children aged five to 11 in Victoria would have received a dose of a Covid vaccine.

“That’s a great milestone but we’ve got a long way to go and we want to get there as quickly as possible,” he said.

There are 170,000 vaccination appointments available at state-run clinics over the next week.