New restrictions in Victoria as authorities tackle Omicron wave

New restrictions have been introduced in Victoria as authorities race to tackle an Omicron wave tearing across the state.

Dancing is off the cards at venues across Victoria and there will be limits on visitors in aged care and hospital settings as the state grapples with the explosion of Omicron cases.

Health Minister Martin Foley made the announcement on Monday in response to rising case numbers.

Hospitality venues must close their dance floors from midnight Wednesday but dancing is still allowed at weddings - though it’s encouraged dance floors are moved outdoors.

There’s also a push for hospitality and entertainment venues to opt for a seated service only.

The vaccine mandate has also extended to the health and aged care sectors who must have a third dose by February 12, Mr Foley announced.

Residents at aged care facilities will still be allowed up to five visitors a day, as long as their guests return a negative rapid antigen test result before they come in.

Health Minister Martin Foley announced the new rules. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

But given the short supply of RATs, acting Chief Health Officer Professor Ben Cowie said visitors would be limited to two people per day for an aged care resident if they cannot get tested.

Anyone visiting someone in hospital must also be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 otherwise they will be required to do a rapid test and wear a medical grade mask.

Mr Foley said the change to dancefloors reflects restrictions in other state’s like NSW where Covid was running rampant.

“We continue to strongly recommend that if you can work from home that you should work from home,” he said.

“We strongly recommend that if you can study from home and you're required to study at the moment, then you should study from home.”

The health minister was also probed about the state’s return to school plan and whether the academic year should be pushed back to allow for more children to get vaccinated.

Dancing will be off the cards at venues across Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Mr Foley said the Victorian government would focus on a national approach.

“National cabinet considered last week, the issue of a consistent approach to return to school (which) is very important. Victoria supports that process,” he said.

“I understand the Commonwealth this week is commencing the discussions to try to get a consistent approach to those issues and Victoria will be a part of those discussions.

“We know that kids have done it really hard over the last two years.”

There were 34,808 new cases reported in Victoria overnight.

About half of the new cases came from rapid antigen tests, which are be recorded online, and the rest from traditional PCR testing.

We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.

Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.

More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/Xek4hvvXXP

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) January 9, 2022

The new case figure is down on the 44,155 reported on Sunday but the number of people in hospital with Covid has risen from 752 to 818.

The health department said 118 people were in ICU, which included both active cases and those who have been cleared of the virus – 28 of those people were ventilated, which was five more than Sunday.

Earlier on Monday, it was revealed essential workers including supermarket staff, those employed in abattoirs, food and beverage processing, freight, transport, logistics workers and food warehousing would be exempt from close contact isolation rules if all other avenues were exhausted.