Of today’s cases, 7584 were reported by positive rapid antigen test results.
There are 1029 people in hospital with the virus and 120 people admitted to intensive care while 39 people are on ventilators.
The hospitalisation number is a slight drop from yesterday.
Victorian COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said the hospitalisations are beginning to stabilise.
“Encouraging to see a little bit of stabilisation over the last few days in that hospitalisation number,” he said.
“Case numbers look like they’re reasonably stabilising,” he said.
Mr Weimar said the seven-day average of cases is sitting just under 21,000.
He also said the test positivity rate is beginning to drop “ever so slightly”.
After the testing chaos over Christmas, the PCR testing wait times are now averaging 24 minutes at clinics across the state.
The state government is moving towards a booster mandate to help increase the number of people with the third COVID-19 vaccine.
The need for QR codes in hospitality and retail venues was discussed given the significant impact of the Omicron outbreak on contact tracing.
The industry discussions came as Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas announced yesterday workers in the public sector will get paid time off to get their third dose as part of the state’s vaccination push.
“We are doing this because the health and safety of our public service and public sector employees and the whole community is vitally important to us,” he said.
“We recognise that, as an employer, we have a duty of care to our public servants.
“They also have a responsibility to the community at large to make sure that they are not a source of infection in those interactions.
“That is why, as an employer, we are taking this vital step. The change in conjunction with the vaccination blitz at sites like this makes getting your third dose earlier and easier than ever before.”
“I don’t rule out there being other groups that become the subject of a mandate,” he said.
“I think we’re very close to a change in policy that will reflect the fact that in order to be fully protected you need to have three doses – not two and an optional extra.”
How Australia faced the emergence of the Omicron variant
Industry leaders are concerned mandating the booster dose will place additional pressure on already struggling businesses.
