Victoria records 1,471 local COVID-19 cases and four deaths

Victoria has recorded 1,471 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths as the state welcomes its first batch of quarantine-free international travellers since the start of the pandemic.

The numbers represent a spike in new cases after the state recorded 1,035 new cases and 12 deaths on Sunday.

The figures, confirmed by the health department on Monday, bring the total active infections to 21,959 and the toll from the latest outbreak to 309.

There are 699 people battling the virus in hospital, including 136 in intensive care and 86 on ventilators.

There were 46,065 Victorians tested on Sunday and 14,413 vaccine doses were administered at state-run hubs.

The spike in case numbers came after Melburnians enjoyed their first weekend of eased restrictions including travel to regional Victoria, the return of gyms, entertainment and retail venues.

As of Monday, 81 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated international arrivals touching down in the state from Monday will no longer have to undergo 14 days in hotel or home quarantine.

The next easing of restrictions comes when 90 per cent of Victorians 12 and over have received both vaccine doses, forecast on or around 24 November.

At that stage, almost all COVID-19 restrictions across the state will come to an end for the fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, there are 135 new local cases of COVID-19 in NSW and four deaths as the border to NSW reopens in what the premier says is “a very important milestone”.

93.6 per cent of people aged 16 and older have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 87.7 per cent of adults are fully jabbed.

The lifting of intrastate travel restrictions will allow families to reunite for the first time in months and marks the return of regional tourism.

Mr Perrottet said cabinet would meet this week to consider the 1 December deadline when freedoms will be extended to the unvaccinated.

“Ultimately if there are opportunities to bring forward some of those relaxing of restrictions, we will do that as well,” he said.

The premier is pushing for foreign workers to be allowed back into the country amid concerns about labour shortages in the hospitality and agriculture sectors as regional tourism resumes.

“One of the biggest issues they are finding is trade is up 200 per cent but their labour and the staff is down 50 per cent,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We’re focused on returning Australians, but we will get to tourism, skilled labour, as quickly as possible,” he said.

“I don’t control the borders, but I would like to see that this year.”

Monday will also see the state’s vaccine booster program open to adults who received their second jab six months ago or longer and rapid antigen tests are also now available.

Source: sbs.com.au