37,169 new cases, 25 deaths; Victorian health system under ’considerable strain’

Daniel Andrews has not ruled out introducing booster mandates for more workplaces, flagging the rules may extend to many jobs that already require double vaccination.

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Premier Daniel Andrews has not ruled out introducing booster mandates for more workplaces, flagging the rules may extend to many jobs that already require double vaccination.

It comes as new documents show the state government was advised to consider a one person per 4sq m limit on venues and enforce seated service indoors, but this advice was not taken.

Earlier this week, the state government announced it would enforce a booster jab mandate for key workers such as those in health care, aged care, disability, emergency services and food distribution.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Andrews suggested more occupations could be named. “I don’t rule out adding to that list,” he said.

“Those last critical percentage points (of vaccination) came, I think, from mandating.

“It makes no sense that you wouldn’t continue to apply that logic.

“I wouldn’t be surprised and I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to having some additional groups included.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews may introduce booster mandates for more workplaces. Picture: David Crosling

Newly published health advice shows acting chief health officer Ben Cowie recommended that Health Minister Martin Foley introduce tougher restrictions than were announced.

Records of a conversation between the two on January 4 show Professor Cowie recommended considering a density limit of one person per 4sq m for hospitality.

Mr Foley instead chose to adopt a one person per 2sq m proposal.

Professor Cowie also reiterated health advice from December about mandating seated service indoors at hospitality venues, and this was also rejected.

A cap of 50 per cent on crowds at major events was flagged and has been implemented for the Australian Open.

But for smaller events, special consideration was given to making sure that most outdoor activities remained attractive to prevent Victorians from heading to higher-risk Covid environments such as inside homes.

It comes after Victoria announced another Covid spike, with 37,169 new infections and 25 deaths emerging overnight.

Currently, 953 Victorians are being treated for Covid in hospital, including 111 receiving intensive care.

Of those, 29 are on a ventilator.

The state’s booster rate has also jumped by 2 per cent in 24 hours. One in five eligible Victorians has now received three vaccine doses.

Covid commander Jeroen Weimar said 69 per cent of PCR tests were coming back within 48 hours as the testing system slowly recovers from massive demand following changes to the rapid antigen testing regime.

He said the government had handed out more than 180,000 rapid antigen tests at state-run centres.

There are now 64 centres that are able to hand out the tests.

“We still have some work to do,” Mr Weimar said.

FURTHER CHANGES TO CLOSE CONTACT RULES

Meanwhile, Victoria will provide more exemptions for close contacts in key industries as the number of people linked to Covid cases continues to surge.

The change, which applies to to fully vaccinated staff, follows similar rules announced for food distribution staff earlier this week.

Read the full article here.

HEALTH SYSTEM UNDER ‘CONSIDERABLE STRAIN’

James Merlino, who is acting health minister, said on Wednesday the health system was under “considerable strain” with more than 6600 healthcare workers unavailable to work.

Mr Merlino said the recruitment of an extra 1000 vaccinators to assist the state’s vaccine rollout could help ease pressure on the health workforce.

Mr Merlino said hospitals could call a “code brown” that would see leave cancelled for workers.

But he said further might need to be done, with considerations about system-wide changes to boost staffing levels.

“It’s a race for people to get vaccinated while we try and support the health system during a period while it’s under extreme strain,” Mr Merlino said.

Mr Merlino also vowed to turn truck driver to help deliver almost 30,000 air purifiers to Victorian schools over the next 18 days.

Under a $190m package announced in September the state government committed to installing 51,000 of the devices in government and low-fee non-government schools.

Mr Merlino said on Wednesday fewer than half of the devices had been delivered, citing transport and supply difficulties.

But he said every single device would be delivered by the start of term 1 on January 31.

Acting Health Minister James Merlino said more than 6600 healthcare workers were not able to work putting strain on the system. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“Even if I need to get in a truck and deliver them myself, we’ll get those air purifiers delivered,” he said.

“More than 20,000 have been delivered. We’ve got the next three weeks where we will deliver the remaining component of that 51,000.

“That’s the commitment we made.”

Mr Merlino said the devices were a vital part of the state’s “mitigation strategy to make sure schools are as safe as they possibly can be”.

It is believed authorities hope 30,000 of the devices will be delivered by the end of the week, with about 2000 new machines reaching schools every day.

The devices are to be installed in higher-risk areas including staff rooms, sick bays and music rooms to remove potentially infectious particles.

As part of the ventilation program, infrastructure audits, ventilation assessments, and CO2 monitoring have been conducted across Victorian schools.

St Joan of Arc Primary School principal Tony McMahon and pupils Hugo, Harriet, Isla and Thomas with air purifiers donated by Karcher. Picture: Tony Gough

A Ventilation Technical Advisory Panel was also established to undertake further risk assessments in other areas.

Mr Merlino ruled out the possibility of a return to remote learning or a delay to the start of the school year.

“No one is talking about remote learning,” he said.

“We made a commitment to the people of Victoria: get vaccinated, and then we can move beyond remote learning.

“There’s no guarantees, we don’t know what’s around the corner, but we support the national framework for getting students back to school for the start of school — day one, term one.”

Opposition Education spokesman David Hodgett questioned the rollout.

“Yet again the Andrews government has been caught out with grand announcements and a failure to deliver,” he said.

“And yet again they blame everyone else instead of taking responsibility.”