Victoria Records 514 New COVID Cases Amid Calls To Hold Back Reopening

Health system under strain


Article heading image for Victoria Records 514 New COVID Cases Amid Calls To Hold Back Reopening

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Victoria recorded 514 new COVID cases on Thursday with contact tracers linking 148 infections to known outbreaks, leaving 366 a mystery.

The record numbers come as Ballarat enter their first day of lockdown with health authorities confirming six active COVID cases in the community with more expected to come.

The National Briefing

Victoria however is only hours away from achieving its first milestone of 70 per cent first-dose vaccine target. 

Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have called on the state government to hold back easing restrictions for another fortnight after 80 per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated.

AMA Victoria president Roderick McRae said the state's health system is already under uncommon strain and its crucial not to plunge it into overwhelm.

"Stress is being felt across the system including in primary care, hospital-in-the-home outreach care for COVID-19 patients and caring for admitted patients both with COVID-19 and other medical illnesses."

"AMA Victoria considers it reckless to open up the current Victorian restrictions until 80 per cent of people 12 years and older, who are now eligible for vaccination, are two weeks beyond their second dose," Mr McRae said.

"That is the time to reassess the state's capacity to manage the inevitable cases of COVID-19 in the remaining 1.6 million unvaccinated Victorian citizens."

- Dr Roderick McRae

Premier Daniel Andrews is set to announce a detailed roadmap out of lockdown this Sunday.

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Join Tom Tilley with regular rotating co-hosts Jan Fran, Annika Smethurst and Jamila Rizvi on The Briefing, Monday - Saturday, for the day's headlines and breaking news as well as hot topics and interviews. Available on Listnr.

Triple M Newsroom

16 September 2021

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Triple M Newsroom




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