Victoria Covid-19: State records 44,155 new cases

Victoria has recorded thousands of new Covid-19 cases and four more deaths, but authorities insist they are ‘not collecting data for the hell of it’.

Victoria's Covid Commander says rapid antigen tests are not being handed out “like lollies” and insists authorities are “not collecting data for the hell of it” as he sought to provide further clarity on the system.

Jeroen Weimar said as people presented at testing sites, based on their contact status and clinical symptoms, a decision would be made as to whether they were offered a RAT or PCR test.

“We’re not opening up palettes of rapid antigen tests and handing them out like lollies,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“We are asking people who have symptoms and recording basic data. This is still a controlled and clinically managed process.”

About 30,000 free testing kits were given to people who attended testing sites on Saturday.

Asked about the accuracy of RATs, he said there had been a “significant shift” in dealing with the Omicron variant.

“It’s a very different type, it moves in a very different way. It has a far higher attack rate and we’ve seen some numbers that frankly we wouldn’t have dreamt of even two or three months ago,” he said.

“So this is a very different environment. That’s why we’ve made a significant and bold step into the rapid antigen testing space across the whole country.

“Those tests are starting to come through progressively into the system and it gives us a really good understanding of how people are managing with their symptoms and how to ensure we have access to care.

“We’re not collecting data for the hell of it. We’re collecting the data to ensure that people who have got a positive rapid antigen test result can access clinical support and relief that they need.”

Jeroen Weimar says rapid antigen tests are not being handed out like lollies. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Mr Weimar also said he was “pretty confident” that there would not be a huge amount of duplication in the data as a result of people doing both a RAT and PCR test.

“We will cross match that data,” he said.

“There’s always a bit of a risk if people are using different names or dates of birth.”

Victoria recorded 44,155 new Covid-19 cases and four more deaths on Sunday.

The health department, which has started tallying rapid antigen tests, said 22,051 of the new cases were detected on RATs and 22,104 were PCR test results.

There were 83,993 PCR tests processed on Saturday.

There are 752 people in hospital with the virus, with 104 of those in intensive care and 23 patients on ventilators.

It was also revealed on Sunday that more than 16 per cent of Victorians aged 18 and over had now received their third dose of the vaccine, while 93 per cent of people aged 12 and above had received their second dose.

“There are still a lot more people who are now eligible for their booster dose, and I really would urge everybody to make that appointment and come and get your booster dose done,” Mr Weimar said.

The children’s vaccine program is also starting this week, with more than 46,000 appointments available at the moment.

It comes after the state recorded a mammoth 51,356 new cases and nine Covid deaths on Saturday after a week’s worth of rapid antigen tests were included in the daily figures.

“We don’t want Victorians to think that the daily transmission has doubled overnight,” Health Minister Martin Foley said.

Thousands of people have been sent a text telling them their PCR test samples were invalid. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

“The reported figure has certainly significantly spiked based on that week’s worth of unreported figures that we now have captured in the system.

“However, we should not rule out that there are still undiagnosed cases out there in the wider community, particularly as access to rapid antigen tests grows each day as more supply that gradually comes online.”

It comes as thousands of people in Melbourne were sent a text message saying that their Covid PCR test samples were “invalid”.

The message from Melbourne Pathology also tells symptomatic people to assume they’re positive.

“Your Covid sample is no longer suitable to be tested and no result can be provided. If currently symptomatic, assume you are positive and arrange rapid antigen or repeat PCR swab confirmation as appropriate,” the shock text reads.

A Victorian Department of Health spokesman confirmed the text and said that the issue was due to a backlog.

“The department is working with pathology providers to address any temporary backlogs,” they said.

“We advise those people whose samples are no longer able to be processed to take a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms, or have otherwise been directed or recommended to undertake a test.”

If a PCR test is left too long in the lab it becomes less effective.