Daniel Andrews extends pandemic declaration for three months due to Omicron

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has extended controversial pandemic powers for three months in response to the rapid spread of Omicron.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has extended the state’s pandemic declaration for another three months under new contentious public health laws.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Andrews announced the declaration would apply to the state of Victoria from this Wednesday.

Health authorities earlier announced another 44,155 new cases had been recorded, along with four deaths.

The controversial laws, recently passed in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, grant sweeping powers to the Premier and health minister.

In particular, the health minister has authority to make orders to protect public health, including mandated mask wearing.

Mr Andrews said the Omicron variant posed a “serious risk” to Victorians which required protective measures.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the declaration would be extended for three months. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

“The Omicron variant means there are significant challenges ahead of us,” he said.

“The third dose vaccine rollout, and our children five to 11-year-old vaccination blitz will give us the strongest chance of meeting this challenge.

“Extending the pandemic declaration ensures we are able to put the measures in place to slow the rate of transmission and protect the community’s health and our health system.”

After the initial pandemic declaration, which lasted four weeks, subsequent extensions can last for up to three months.

Acting chief health officer Brett Cowie said there had been a continuing rise in hospital and ICU admissions but the state was yet to reach its peak.

He said there could be a significant negative impact on essential services and supply chains without the measures.

Of the 44,155 new cases, health authorities revealed 22,051 of them were detected via rapid antigen tests.

There were 83,993 PCR tests processed on Saturday.

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