Victorian health authorities warn Covid deaths, hospitalisations set to soar as mutations take over

A senior Victorian minister has said mask mandates are not planned amid the state’s deadly Covid surge but denied it has anything to do with a looming state election.

The Department of Health anticipates an increase in cases including reinfections, hospital admissions and deaths. Picture: David Caird

Victorian health authorities have sounded a grim warning over the rise of Covid mutations able to evade vaccines but a senior Labor minister has all but ruled out a reintroduction of mask mandates.

Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said on Saturday Victoria had no plans to reintroduce mask wearing despite the growing number of Covid cases.

“We are always guided by our health advice,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“The current heath advice in Victoria has with us the right settings for our state.

“Conversations can happen around different states depending on their own circumstances.

“But here in Victoria, we have the right settings in place.”

Ms D’Ambrosio said the looming state election in November had nothing to do with not implementing Covid restrictions.

“Health is too important - we’re talking about life or death here,” she said.

“We know what it’s like to have Covid embedded in our community and everything this government has ever done is follow the science and health advice.”

Her comments came after the Victorian Department of Health warned Covid deaths and hospitilisations across the state were set to soar as mutants took hold.

“The Department of Health anticipates the prevalence of BA.4/BA.5 in Victoria is likely to result in an increase in cases - including reinfections - and hospital admissions and deaths.

“This is because the strain has a greater ability than BA.2 to evade immunity provided by vaccination and earlier Covid-19 infection,” it said on Friday night.

Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are likely to become the dominant strains in Victoria.

Queensland has flagged it could reintroduce mask mandates, as its Covid wave worsens.

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard has confirmed the reintroduction of mandatory masks is “being discussed”.

Dr Gerrard said a number of his interstate colleagues had flagged the possibility of once again asking people to mask up to slow the spread.

“I can say that nationally, there is increasing pressure, there is a school of thought that we should be mandating masks again,” he said.

The prevalence of Omicron stealth strains BA.4/BA.5 in Victorian metropolitan and regional wastewater catchments has recently soared, showing growing transmission of the worrisome variants in the community.

People are still wearing masks in Melbourne CBD as Covid cases continue to rise. Picture: David Geraghty

There are currently 472 Covid cases in hospital in Victoria; with 15 active cases in ICU, including five on a ventilator, the Victorian department of Health said on Friday night.

The Victorian Department of Health said on Friday night there were more than 8000 new cases recorded across the state on Thursday, and tragically, 12 Victorians had died.

“This is in line with similar patterns in NSW and Queensland where both states have seen a significant rise in the number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 during June,” the department said.

“Masks are strongly recommended in shared indoor settings; if you can’t physically distance; or you are with those more vulnerable to Covid-19. Improve ventilation by opening doors and windows, using fans or purifiers, and gathering outside where possible.

“Face masks are still required for everyone aged 8 and above in some locations, including on public transport, ride shares and taxis, and in sensitive settings such as hospitals and care facilities. They are also required by household contacts in quarantine who meet the criteria for leaving home.”

Victoria’s state-commissioned services have administered 6,280,175 vaccine doses so far, with 833 doses administered yesterday at state-run centres.

Victorians aged 16 and over have a 68.4 percentage of three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine whereas 94.6 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have had two doses.