Victoria’s Covid deaths continue to rise despite fall in case numbers

As Victoria’s Covid case numbers finally fall, tragically deaths have risen amid the emergence of an immune-evasive Omicron strain.

Covid case numbers are falling in Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

Victoria recorded 156 deaths from Covid-19 over the past week but hospitalisations and case numbers continue to decline around the state.

There has been a 5.5 per cent increase in the number of daily Covid-19 related deaths over the past month when compared to the previous month. Almost 6800 Victorians have died from coronavirus since the pandemic began.

Health authorities said the increase in reported deaths was expected following recent periods of high transmission in the community. However, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said the state appeared to be on the right path.

Covid case numbers are falling in Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

“There continue to be positive signs the sustained peak of the November-December wave has passed, with Covid cases and hospitalisations declining again this week,” Professor Sutton noted in Victoria’s latest Covid-19 weekly update.

There were 4912 coronavirus cases reported in Victoria in the last week, representing a 37.2 per cent decrease on the previous week. There are 324 Covid patients in Victorian hospitals, with 14 in intensive care and 6 on a ventilator.

Professor Sutton said Victoria was also “well-placed” to monitor the emergence of the new XBB. 1.5 – nicknamed ‘Kraken’ – which is considered the most transmissible and immune-evasive Omicron strain.

The subvariant is estimated to already make up half of all coronavirus cases in the US.

“Two cases of the subvariant XBB.1.5 have been detected in Victoria through genomic surveillance testing,” Professor Sutton said.

“With Australia’s most comprehensive wastewater surveillance, Victoria is well-placed to monitor the emergence of this variant locally.”