Victoria records 3767 new cases, five Covid deaths

Victoria has announced a major change to Covid tests after the state recorded its highest daily case tally since the pandemic began.

The first global shipment of Victoria’s 34 million free rapid antigen tests will arrive later this week after the state recorded a shocking spike in infections.

The state recorded 3767 new cases and five Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.

Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley said it had “fallen on the states, as per usual” to secure the international delivery of 34 million rapid tests.

“We would much prefer to have a national approach to what is an international supply issue but failing that, as per usual, the states have had to step up over the course of this pandemic and fill the gap that’s been left,” he said on Wednesday.

Mr Foley also promised the rapid tests would be free to those who needed them most.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“Rapid antigen tests should be free and we will be making them free. Rapid antigen tests should be widely available and we will be making them widely available,” he said.

Covid-19 Commander Jereon Weimar said the first of the rapid antigen test deliveries would arrive within days.

“We’re really pleased that the government’s made that commitment for 34 million rapid antigen tests to be delivered during January,” he said.

“The first of those deliveries arrives this weekand there will be more deliveries next week and the following week.”

There are now 397 infected people in Victorian hospitals with 62 active in intensive care and 28 on ventilators.

More than 92 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state has 19,994 active cases.

A total of 75,132 tests were taken yesterday and 535 vaccines were administered at state hubs.

Melbourne’s testing facilities have been pushed to capacity over Christmas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Chief health officer Brett Sutton asked Victorians who needed a negative Covid test in order to travel interstate to get tested in the afternoon in order to shorten lengthy wait times.

“We kindly ask people who are getting a PCR test for travel purposes to get tested after 12pm daily,” he said.

“This will help reduce testing demand for symptomatic people and contacts during the busier morning period.”