‘Now is the time to take steps to help reduce transmission and impact on the health system’

Covid cases across Victoria are continuing to climb, with chief health officer Brett Sutton reinforcing the need for boosters and masks, to lessen the impact on the state’s health system.

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton says Victorians should take steps now to protect themselves and others against Covid. Picture: Supplied

Covid cases across Victoria have continued to climb, with chief health officer Brett Sutton reinforcing the need for vaccine boosters, mask wearing and room ventilation, to help combat the latest wave.

He also called for people sick with Covid to stay home for at least five days.

Professor Sutton on Friday said there had been 5,772 Covid cases reported in the past week, , an increase of 11 per cent on the week before.

There were currently 204 Covid patients in hospital, with 10 in intensive care and three so sick they were on ventilators. Twenty-five Victorian Covid patients had died.

The hospitalisation rate has climbed from 184 last week, while the case number rise follows a 17 per spike last week and a nearly 60 per cent rise the week before.

In the past three months, 2,205 Covid patients had been hospitalised in Victoria, Prof Sutton said.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has reported rising Covid cases and hospitalisations for a number of weeks now. Picture: Daniel Pockett

“Victoria continued to see an increase in Covid cases this week, recording an 11 per cent increase. This increase in transmission is being driven by the combination of waning immunity and the growth in recent weeks of multiple Omicron recombinant sub lineages, particularly XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1 and XBB.1.16,” Prof Sutton said.

“With increasing cases and hospitalisations, now is an important time to take steps to help reduce transmission and the impact on the health system. Now is the perfect time to get your 2023 booster vaccine if you’re eligible. Protecting yourself from getting infected is the best way to protect yourself and the community. If you don’t get Covid, you can’t spread Covid.”

He said Victorians should take the following steps to “help stay ahead of Covid”.

1. Wear a mask

2. Get a 2023 booster: new bivalent vaccines targeting Omicron variants are available though GPs and pharmacies.

3. Let fresh air in: open windows and doors when you can, it reduces the spread of the virus

4. Get tested: if you have symptoms, take a rapid antigen test.

5. Stay at home: if you have Covid, you should stay at home for at least five days and until you have no symptoms.

6. Talk to your doctor: if you are at risk of falling very sick, you may be eligible for Covid medicines. Covid medicines work best taken within five days of getting sick, and the earlier the better.

Of Victorians aged 18 and over, 13 per cent had recorded a vaccination or Covid diagnosis in the past six months, meaning 4.4 million Victorians were now eligible for a 2023 vaccine booster dose, he said.

Of Victorians aged 65 and over, 23 per cent had recorded a vaccination or Covid diagnosis in the past six months, while just 15 per cent of those aged 50 to 64, had recorded a vaccination or Covid diagnosis for the same period.