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Highlights
- Massive surge in cases around northern Melbourne.
- Australia reported 14,379 infections in the last seven days
- In the last seven days, the daily infections have doubled.
The southeastern state of Victoria is seeing a massive surge in COVID-19 infections, propelling the nationwide cases to a new high.
The country reported 14,379 infections in the last seven days – a growth of 21% from 11,931 cases, sequentially. On Monday as well, Australia reported 2,389 cases – of which an overwhelming 1,763 were reported in Victoria alone.
With this, Victoria has recorded the highest daily local cases’ tally recorded in any state or territory, surpassing the peak of 1,599 recorded in the New South Wales (NSW) outbreak.
It is a meteoric rise from 1,488 that was Victoria's previous high, which was taken from Friday's tests.
On that day, authorities warned that if infection rates continued to rise, there would be grave consequences for the health system – which is already experiencing ambulance ramping and workforce issues.
The daily tally of new infections has doubled in just eight days, from 867 cases found positive in last Monday's test results.
Just 6% of the 517 people in hospital are fully vaccinated.
Raising alarms over increased cases, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said: “The last few days, the increase in cases is very serious. Even if we're running at a 5% hospitalisation rate, that is still people in hospital, many of whom didn't need to be there.”
Earlier, the premier did not rule out changes to the state's roadmap out of lockdown if cases rose faster than expected, urging people to stick with the rules until it was safe to lift restrictions.
Today, Mr Andrews reiterated that the state was committed to the national plan of lifting restrictions once 70% of the adult population has had two doses of a vaccine, then granting more freedoms at the 80% mark.
The 70% target is expected to be met on October 26, and 80% on about November 5, dates which may move forward if rates are boosted.
High rates of coronavirus infections are being seen in Melbourne's northern and western suburbs, a state COVID-19 chief has warned.
