Victoria records 2179 new cases of Covid-19 as travel changes revealed

Huge travel changes have been announced for people in NSW wanting to enter Victoria as the state records a further six deaths.

Fully vaccinated people in NSW red zones will soon be able to enter Victoria without facing two weeks of quarantine.

It comes as Victoria rapidly approaches its jab targets, with 63 per cent of the state’s population now fully vaccinated.

The travel changes will come into effect on October 19, but fully vaccinated people entering Victoria from red zones will need a negative Covid-19 test result 72 hours before entering the state.

People who aren’t fully vaccinated must have a negative result from a test taken no more than 72 hours prior to entry, and they must quarantine for 14 days, plus get tested again on day 13.

“People who are fully vaccinated have a right to reduced requirements because they present reduced risk,” Health Minister Martin Foley said.

“Victoria and NSW have been through so much over the last few months, and we’re pleased that more families will now be able to reunite and more people will be able to travel in a safe way.”

Premier Daniel Andrews has assured Victorians the state remains on track to leave lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria recorded 2179 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, with the day also marking the cut-off for essential workers in Victoria now needing to show proof of vaccination to work.

It is the second consecutive day Victoria’s case numbers have crashed through the 2000 mark following the announcement of an Australian record 2297 cases and 11 deaths on Thursday.

Victoria’s Covid response commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities were expecting significantly high numbers in the coming days and weeks.

Just over one-quarter of cases are in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, with one third in the western suburbs, and numbers in the southeastern suburbs are continuing to grow.

Regional Victoria now accounts for 9 per cent of all cases.

Mr Weimar said the numbers this week were “worrying”.

“From yesterday‘s numbers we are clearly seeing a step up in the number of cases we are dealing with here in Victoria,” Mr Weimar said.

“We know with a high attack rate of coronavirus, of the Delta strain, within households we expect to see significantly more numbers coming out of those new households in the coming days and weeks.”

Victoria recorded 2179 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, with the day also marking the cut-off for essential workers in Victoria now needing to show proof of vaccination to work. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

There were another six deaths across the state on Thursday, taking the toll from the current outbreak to 131.

There are 695 people in hospital with the virus, with 157 people in ICU and 101 on a ventilator.

A whopping 67 per cent of Friday’s cases were unvaccinated, with three-quarters of those in hospital also not fully vaccinated.

“Unvaccinated people here in Victoria right now are 10 times more likely to catch Covid than somebody who is fully vaccinated,” Mr Weimar said.

“This is why vaccination is our way out of this and why it is critically important that we all protect ourselves to get vaccinated, to get fully vaccinated as swiftly and as safely as possible.”

Reported yesterday: 2,179 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
- 38,752 vaccines administered
- 73,942 test results received
- Sadly, 6 people with COVID-19 have died

More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/dQ8T9QNCPg

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 14, 2021

Premier Daniel Andrews has assured Victorians the rising numbers will not deter the government’s plan to release residents from lockdown once vaccination goals are reached.

“We have, fundamentally, a very important agreement with the Victorian community – you get vaccinated and we will open up, and I do what I say,” he said.

The state is hovering below the 70 per cent double-dose milestone that would trigger the first tranche of relaxations.

Victoria’s recent case numbers.

There were 38,752 vaccinations conducted at government clinics on Thursday, and almost 59,000 jabs were administered at other sites in Victoria.

According to CovidBaseAu, Victoria’s double-dose rate stands at 62.6 per cent, while its single-dose rate has surpassed 87 per cent.