Australia’s largest Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is continuing to grow in the state of Victoria, a latest daily update released on Wednesday has indicated.
The state recorded 1,571 new local cases and 13 deaths with most of the cases still around the state capital of Melbourne.
The latest figures, a rise of 105 over the previous day, mean Victoria was now grappling with 19,861 active cases, placing huge stress on the state’s hospital system.
Among those badly affected were dozens of sick babies at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) who were now in isolation with their parents after a father, who later tested positive for COVID-19, visited the neonatal intensive care unit.
RCH chief executive Bernadette McDonald said there would consequently be rapid antigen testing for all hospital visitors by the end of this week.
She told local newspaper the Age that visitors would be tested before they entered the hospital and would need to prove negative before they could enter any clinical wards.
Meanwhile, health authorities said Victoria’s vaccination rate was rising quicker than expected, meaning the state could reach its 70 per cent fully vaccinated milestone four days ahead of the Oct. 26 target.
If the trend continues, Melbourne could finally have some of its freedoms restored with fully vaccinated people being allowed to go to the pub, get a haircut, go shopping or visit a restaurant or café.
Such freedoms were already introduced for people in the state of New South Wales (NSW) this week.
As at Wednesday in NSW, 90.8 per cent of people aged over 16 have received their first vaccine doses and 75.2 per cent were fully vaccinated.
NSW authorities said the second phase of the “Roadmap to Freedom” would be launched when the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target is reached.
On Wednesday, NSW recorded 444 new local cases and four deaths in the 24 hours up to 8:00 p.m Tuesday local time.
