Victoria has recorded 1036 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths in the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night, Saturday. However, 80 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated, with more than 4.5 million doses administered in total.
Currently more than 700 Victorians are hospitalised with the virus. Of those, 128 are in intensive care and 80 require ventilation while there are currently 22,013 active cases of COVID-19 in the state.
Meanwhile, Western Australia intensified its border restrictions introducing a double vaccination requirement for travellers from “extreme risk areas” still recording COVID-19 cases such as Victoria and NSW. Those wanting to enter WA will be required to undertake 14 days of hotel quarantine at their own expense.
The vaccination and quarantine requirements do not apply for travellers from Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, which are all categorised as very low risk.
At the same time, NSW recorded its lowest infection numbers since July. The state confirmed 177 local cases of COVID-19 and one death, as Australia prepares to reopen its borders for international travel for the first time in nearly two years from Monday.
Premier Dominic Perrottet stated earlier today that higher vaccination rates in regional NSW have given the government confidence to allow regional travel for the fully vaccinated across the state from Monday.
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night, Saturday, 93.5 per cent of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine – 87.5 per cent of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
