There were 15,928 COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria this week, down 19 per cent on the previous week. The average daily number of new cases this week is 2,275.
The number of active cases in Victoria is 11,815 and continues to decline from a peak of 71,428 recorded on 23 July.
The 7-day rolling average of patients with COVID-19 in Victorian hospitals is 255, down 25.9 per cent when compared to the same time last week. The daily number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation peaked at 906 on 20 July.
There are currently 8 COVID-19 patients in intensive care and 5 cleared cases, an overall decrease of 36 per cent when compared to the same time last week. There are 3 COVID-19 patients on a ventilator.
In the past three months, 7,007 COVID-19 patients were hospitalised in Victoria. Almost half (45.5 per cent) had not received their third vaccine dose. 2,190 (31.3 per cent) were unvaccinated, 64 had received one dose, 933 had two doses, 2,223 had received three doses and 1,597 had received four doses.
94.7 per cent of people aged 12 and over in Victoria have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 69.8 per cent of people aged 16 and over in Victoria have had their third dose.
Of Victorians aged 50 to 64, 79.6 per cent have had their third dose and 26.1 per cent have had their fourth dose. Of those aged over 65, 90.6 per cent have had their third dose and 64.7 per cent have had their fourth dose.
An average of 12 deaths were reported each day in the past week. This represents a 0.2 per cent decline from the previous month.
In the past three months, there have been 1,637 COVID-19 related deaths in Victoria. Of those deaths, 54 per cent had not received their third COVID-19 vaccine dose. 753 (45.9 per cent) were unvaccinated, 12 had received one dose, 123 had two doses, 361 had received three doses and 388 had received four doses.
The total number of COVID-related deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began is 5,464. The number of COVID-related deaths recorded in Victoria so far this year is 3,853.
COVID-19 epidemiological summary
There continues to be a decline in COVID-19 case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths in Victoria from the high levels seen in July and August at the peak of the BA.4/BA.5 Omicron variant epidemic.
COVID-19 hospitalisations and intensive care admissions in Victoria are at their lowest levels since late March this year.
Eligible people who have had less than three or four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and people aged over 50 years are over-represented in hospitalisations and deaths.
This Omicron wave has been characterised by a much-improved uptake of antiviral treatments in high-risk groups and increased use of rapid antigen testing. Treatment with COVID-19 medicines has been an important intervention and has likely contributed to reducing hospital admissions and deaths in Victoria.
Age, vaccination status, waning immunity and comorbidities all contribute to a person’s risk of death from COVID-19. The data continues to show unvaccinated people, who represent less than 4 per cent of the over-12 Victorian population and less than 1 per cent of those 65+ years, are significantly over-represented among patients in hospitals, intensive care units and those who die from COVID-19.
It is important that Victorians remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, get tested and stay home if you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, wear a good quality face mask if you are indoors in a public space or outside in a crowded space where you can’t physically distance and maintain good ventilation indoors.
Changes to pandemic orders now in effect
Effective from 11.59pm last night, the self-isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases has been reduced from seven to five days, for cases who don’t have symptoms. Anyone leaving isolation after five days cannot visit or work at a sensitive setting – such as hospitals, residential aged care, disability care settings or in-home care for the next two days.
The requirement to wear masks on domestic flights has also been lifted.
