Huge boost to rapid tests in Victoria as state records 28,128 new Covid cases

The first three million rapid tests purchased by the Victorian government have arrived in the state and will be handed out to high-risk areas from Monday.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday confirmed the first delivery of its 44 million order had arrived and would be distributed immediately.

He said health care and other critical areas would be among the first to receive the tests.

Mr Andrews said he had been told the full order of 44 million tests would be in Victoria by the end of the month or early February.

Some tests will be rolled out to community groups and multicultural associations to help tackle outbreaks.

More than 400,000 rapid tests were handed out at state-run PCR testing centres last week.

Since Friday, January 7, when a new rapid test self-reporting system was introduced, 145,580 Victorians have uploaded their positive result.

Mr Andrews urged Victorians to keep honouring close contact requirements and to get a booster as soon as possible.

“If there's one thing you do today or tomorrow, if you’re eligible for a booster please go online and book an appointment,” he said.

“It is key to us driving down these case numbers.”

Victoria on Sunday recorded 28,128 new Covid-19 cases and 13 more deaths, as experts say the state could soon be over its peak.

There are a record 1114 people in hospital with the virus, of whom 122 are in intensive care. There are 35 people being ventilated.

The number of hospitalisations is up by 60 compared to Saturday.

There are currently 237,559 active cases in the state.

Of the new cases, 10,337 came from positive rapid antigen tests.

On Saturday Victoria surpassed a grim milestone earlier in the week with more than 1000 people in hospital with the virus after the state recorded 25,526 new cases and 23 deaths.

Covid-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar said the state had “unfortunately and sadly” surpassed 1000 hospitalised patients on Friday but Saturday’s figures meant it had reached its highest number of hospitalisations since the pandemic began.

“This again highlights how transmissible Omicron is but also how avoidable it is,” he said. “Less than half of people in hospital were not fully vaccinated.

Hotels once used to quarantine Victoria’s returning travellers will soon be used to house infected patients to try free up hospital beds.

Deputy Premier James Merlino confirmed The Pullman on Swanston St and The Mantra in Epping would become the first medi-hotels for recovering Covid patients.

He said patients nearing the end of their hospital stay and needed a lower level of care would be transferred to complete their treatment in the hotels.

“This will alleviate some of the pressure on our hospitals, moving some patients out of the hospital system who can otherwise be cared for in a medi-hotel,” Mr Merlino said.

Meanwhile NSW recorded 34,660 cases on Sunday.