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Victoria's new Covid cases more than DOUBLE overnight

Victoria has surpassed NSW's daily total of infections, recording over 51,000 new Covid cases.

It was announced on Saturday there were 51,356 new Covid cases, of which, 26,428 were identified through rapid antigen tests and 24,928 through PCR.

The case numbers are more than double Friday's figure.

Victoria's health department said most people with a positive rapid test got the result earlier in the week and reported it when the webform opened on Friday.

"The number of people who actually received their positive rapid antigen test result yesterday was 5,923," the Victorian Department of Health said.

People queue at a walk-in COVID-19 testing site at in Melbourne, Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Source: AAP
Victoria has surpassed NSW's daily total of infections, recording over 51,000 new Covid cases. Source: AAP

Nine people have died from the virus and as of Saturday, there are 644 people in hospital and 106 of them in the ICU.

On Friday, Victoria opened a hotline and online reporting system for those who test positive with a rapid antigen test.

It is expected the system will eventually be able to handle more than 50,000 new positive cases a day.

Anyone who tests positive will be classified as a "probable" case and must isolate for seven days and notify their contacts.

They will receive the same clinical and financial support as PCR confirmed cases.

Rapid test will hopefully take some pressure off the overloaded PCR testing system, though, finding RAT kits have been difficult all across Australia.

The 44 million tests ordered by the state are in transit, with early orders already starting to arrive.

Victoria reintroduces Covid restrictions

Victoria has also reintroduced restrictions amid the surge in cases, with density limits of one person per two square metres for indoor hospitality and entertainment venues being imposed.

On Saturday, NSW recorded 45,098 new Covid cases, however, unlike Victoria, there is not yet a way for people to record their rapid test results.

The more than 45,000 cases came out of 116,915 PCR tests carried out in 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night.

However, NSW is set to have some sort of registration system for rapid test results up and running next week.

With AAP

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