Victoria has recorded 80 new local cases of COVID-19 as hospitals begin to feel the strain of having hundreds of staff taken out of the health system.
Key points:
- Of the new cases, 67 are linked to known outbreaks and 39 were in quarantine for their entire infectious period
- The Victorian AMA branch said close to 1,000 staff were currently furloughed at hospitals
- The mayor of Shepparton has called for more state government support to deal with the city's outbreak
Of the new cases, 67 are linked to known outbreaks, and 39 have been in quarantine for their entire infectious period.
The new cases were identified from 56,248 test results received yesterday, and there were 33,932 doses of vaccine administered at state-run sites.
The Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association has warned that hospitals are under immense pressure from the furloughing of staff due to the outbreak.
It was announced yesterday that Victoria will fly in 350 medical staff from overseas to ease the pressure on its weary health system.
Victorian Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice-president, Sarah Whitelaw, said hundreds of staff had been taken out of the system.
"I would estimate we've got close to 1,000 healthcare workers on furlough, which does put an enormous strain on the system," she told ABC News Breakfast.
"Absolutely, we want people to come if you need emergency treatment, if you're sick, please do not stay away. But there is no doubt that healthcare workers are stretched, they're exhausted."
The AMA wants international medical graduates who are already in the country to have their rights to work in the hospital system fast tracked.
"What we need to be sure of is that there are no barriers to credentialing those international medical graduates who are already in Australia. We need to make sure that any delays to them sitting exams with the AMC [Australian Medical Council] or processing their applications through registration are removed."
More help sough to combat Shepparton outbreak
The mayor of Shepparton has asked the state government for more support as the regional Victorian city deals with a rising number of COVID-19 cases.
The cluster in Shepparton had already reached 50 cases yesterday, and more infections are expected to be reported today.
People in Shepparton have reported struggling to buy groceries and receive deliveries of essential supplies, with thousands of residents in home quarantine.
Mayor Kim O'Keefe said it was a challenging situation, and the city needed more help.
"We need immediate support. We're doing the best we can, but we know there's families that, you know, it's taking time to get to them," she said.
"The supermarkets are needing help as well, they're needing support. So, you know, it's something that no-one has perhaps ever seen before as far as the sheer amount of numbers in one community. It's very hard to manage."
Supermarket chain Woolworths said a large number of its staff were isolating and there were not enough workers to fulfil online orders.
Victorian Independent MP Suzanna Sheed wants army personnel to help with online ordering, packing food and groceries and delivering goods throughout the community.
"We really need a lot more truck drivers, people helping in supermarkets and we need our multinational supermarkets to step up and send in the extra resources that are required to make our towns function around this area," she said.
Australian Defence Force personnel and health clinicians from metropolitan areas will arrive today to support with testing efforts.
More to come.
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Victoria records 80 new local COVID-19 cases - ABC News
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