Victoria has recorded 1,841 new local COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths as the state moves closer to coming out of lockdown.
Key points:
- Today, the state is likely to hit a milestone of having 70 per cent of its population aged 16 and above fully vaccinated
- AMA Victoria wants health workers to get booster shots earlier than the federal government's recommendation
- Police are calling for protests to be made legal when restrictions ease "to facilitate peaceful protests"
There are now 22,598 active cases of the virus in Victoria, and 175 people have died during the current Delta outbreak.
The new infections were detected from 78,928 test results received yesterday.
According to the latest Commonwealth vaccination numbers, 89.21 per cent of people aged 16+ in Victoria have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 69.28 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Restrictions will be eased in Victoria at 11:59pm on Thursday, after the state reaches the 70 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.
Call for early vaccine booster shots for health workers
The Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association wants vaccine booster shots to be approved for healthcare workers ahead of the federal government's recommended schedule.
Australia's vaccine advisory body ATAGI is yet to confirm when it will provide advice on boosters for essential workplaces.
But AMA Victoria's president Roderick McRae said some healthcare workers would soon need more protection from the virus.
"The vaccine status of those healthcare workers in particular who have had those two booster doses, their protection against COVID-19 is waning," he said.
"They should be looking after healthcare workers to ensure that they're as protected as they possibly can be as they have made the decision to open up the community."
Victoria Police push for return to registered protests as restrictions ease
Victoria Police says it is working with the state government to set up a system so protests can be registered and authorised, as the state prepares to step out of lockdowns.
Large gatherings have been prohibited under the Chief Health Officer's directives, with police forced to break up protests and fine participants.
But police now want to return to the system that allowed protest organisers to submit a COVID-safe plan so the event could be authorised.
"We are pushing for a similar system to be rolled out as we want to work with organisers to facilitate peaceful protests," a police spokesperson said.
"Victoria Police will continue to work with government and ultimately it will be a decision for them on how and when protests can legally occur."
Flights from New South Wales to Victoria resume
The first flights from New South Wales into Victoria for months have touched down at Melbourne Airport.
Victoria has downgraded all red zones in New South Wales, meaning fully vaccinated travellers coming into the state will not have to quarantine.
Just two flights are due to arrive today from New South Wales, but that schedule is expected to change from Friday.
Ziba Misaghi flew in this morning with her children, to meet her two-month-old nephew for the first time.
They were desperately waiting for restrictions to ease to see the baby.
"We were just spewing we couldn't come and meet the newborn," Ms Misaghi said.
"We just had a chance yesterday to book today's flight to come in and meet him, finally."
Schools urged to follow COVID guidelines
Victoria's education department has urged all schools to follow the new guidelines set down in the event of positive COVID-19 cases on campuses.
Schools in metropolitan Melbourne are welcoming students back this week as part of a staggered return to classrooms.
Prep students returned on Monday, and grades one and two will return tomorrow.
Deputy secretary of the Department of Education and Training, David Howes, said schools would no longer have to close for all students in the event of a positive case.
"Typically, it will only be that class whereas in the past it's been the whole school that's had to be out. The vast majority of students will be back the next day," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
He said unvaccinated primary school students would still be required to isolate for 14 days if they were deemed a close contact, but it was likely that would not be the case for older students.
"We are hoping that fully vaccinated secondary students only need to isolate for seven days," he said.
Schools will also not be required to undergo a deep clean if a positive case is detected.
Mr Howes said schools would not be allowed to deviate from the rules set down by the department.
"What we want is exactly a uniform approach, very tight, very predictable, very structured approach that means schools know exactly what they have to do and parents and the community can be very confident in the steps that will be followed," he said.
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Victoria records 1,841 new local COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths as state nears vaccination target - ABC News
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