Victoria hits new Covid cases record

Victoria has hit a new record for coronavirus cases reaching over 20,000 for the first time in the pandemic as experts raise concerns over testing changes.

Victoria has recorded more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

The state reported 21,997 cases and six deaths on Wednesday, according to the Health Department.

There are 631 people in hospital with the virus and 100 in intensive care units, including 22 on ventilators.

That is an increase up from 591 Covid patients in hospital the previous day but there are fewer people in intensive care.

More than 64,000 tests were carried out and in the past 24 hours.

Free rapid antigen tests will be given to concession card holders across Australia, while PCR test requirements will be scrapped for people who ­return a positive rapid antigen result in a bid to ease the load on overwhelmed testing centres across the country.

Pre-arrival hospital tests, seven-day rolling tests for truck drivers, second tests for international arrivals, and rapid antigen tests for interstate travel will also be dumped – except in Western Australia.

Additionally, anyone who tests postitive on a rapid antigen test, will not need to get a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid antigen test result.

The decisions made by national cabinet on Wednesday came as the Victorian government revealed it was monitoring the spread of Covid around the country, as it considers whether further ­restrictions will be needed.

“This virus will continue to challenge us, and it is important that we all remain calm,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

“This is the product of ­Omicron and the different ­demands that are placed on the system because of Omicron, which leads to a very high number of cases.”

Scott Morrison said Australia has “no choice but to ride the Omicron” as he announced millions more people would get free rapid tests. Picture: Gary Ramage

But Mr Morrison’s proposal for cash handouts to help low-income earners and pensioners afford rapid antigen tests, as well as a push for universal availability, was rejected by leaders at national ­cabinet.

Instead, more than six million concession card holders will be able to get 10 free tests over the next three months via pharmacies.

The tests, which will be funded under a 50/50 agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories, are expected to be made available within the next fortnight.

The changes come after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Wednesday ­demanded RATs be made ­freely available to all Australians via Medicare.

But Mr Morrison has refused to follow nations such as Britain, saying “making everything free is not a silver bullet”.

Tests remain free through state clinics for anyone who is symptomatic or a close contact, with concession card holders urged to attend those sites if they have symptoms to reduce spread at pharmacies.

Many Australians are struggling to find rapid antigen tests. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Commonwealth has also procured a further 20 million RATs, with half of those to be given to states for point-of- care tests.

Mr Morrison warned there would continue to be tension over coming weeks, but 160 million tests would be ­arriving soon.

“We understand people are frustrated by it, we are all frustrated by it, I am frustrated by it … we have to keep working through the problems,” he said.

Supermarkets and pharmacies are also expected to ­implement a limit of one box of either two or five tests per customer, and anyone caught charging 20 per cent above the normal price will face jail terms or fines of up to $66,000 for price gouging under changes to the Biosecurity Act.

Export controls will also be introduced to prevent Australia’s stock being sold overseas.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash will also review the ­occupational health and safety obligations of businesses that require employees to have a RAT before going to work.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said the state government was continuing to receive advice on whether more restrictions were needed. But she pointed to existing measures, such as wearing masks indoors and vaccination rates, as tactics already ­used to tackle the virus.

Meanwhile, elective surgery will be temporarily reduced to urgent procedures only from Thursday in both public and private hospitals in Melbourne and major regional cities, as the health system struggles with an influx of Covid-19 ­patients.