Victoria mandates booster shot for some workers

It comes amid estimates one in every 25 Victorians may have Covid-19.

Health Minister Martin Foley on Monday revealed the government would make new pandemic orders, starting at 11.59pm on Wednesday, to help rein in surging case numbers.

The state recorded 34,808 new Covid infections and two deaths, and rapid antigen tests now make up half the results reported.

Under the changes, boosters will be required for staff in healthcare, aged care, disability, emergency services, jails, quarantine and food distribution.

Retail supermarket staff do not come under the guidelines

Workers eligible for their booster vaccinations on or before Wednesday will have until February 12 to meet this requirement.

Employees who are not yet eligible will be required to get a booster within three months and two weeks of the deadline from their second dose, which is the date when they were last required to be fully vaccinated for work.

Residential aged care workers must receive their third dose by March 1 and healthcare workers by March 29.

All other industries under the mandate will have until March 12.

Additional restrictions were also announced to curb case numbers. Indoor dance floors will be closed with the exception of weddings, but wedding hosts have been urged to consider moving them outdoors.

Victorians are still strongly recommended to work from home but no binding order enforcing this has been made.

Visitors to aged care centres must have a negative rapid test result before entering and if no rapid tests are available, the resident may only have two visitors that day, down from five.

Hospital visitors must have received two doses of a Covid vaccine and return a negative rapid test, while unvaccinated adults must wear a N95 mask during their visit.

Mr Foley said the rules were needed to ease pressure on overburdened healthcare services, with modelling showing the height of the outbreak still weeks away. “We would expect the peak of those Omicron cases to be in late January or early February,” he said

There are 818 people with Covid being treated in hospital, 118 patients undergoing intensive care and 28 people are on ventilators.

Acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said it was estimated that 4 per cent, or one in 25 Victorians, had the virus.

He said Omicron appeared to make up more than 90 per cent of new cases, but that Delta was possibly more prevalent in ICU.

“There’s probably a significantly greater proportion of people who have got mild symptoms that have decided to just stay at home and wait for seven days, although we do recommend people use diagnostics,” Professor Cowie said.

KIDS QUEUE FOR THE JAB

Victoria’s youngest rolled up their small sleeves on Monday as millions of children across the country became eligible for their first Covid vaccination.

Children aged five to 11 can now receive their first dose of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine at either state-run vaccination hubs, GPs or pharmacies.

But some families with appointments at their local GP on Monday were left scrambling. Balwyn Health Care was one of many Melbourne clinics due to start vaccinating children on the first day of the rollout, but their pediatric doses did not arrive on time.

With no vaccine available, Dr Mary-Anne Lancaster was forced to cancel appointments.

“We’re going to have to cancel, as are a lot of other clinics, the kids today,” she said. The frustrated GP said she would have been willing to drive to get the vaccine herself but had been prevented from doing so.

With supply shortages forcing other GPs to also cancel appointments, some families spent the morning queuing at walk-in vaccination clinics.

Upon walking into the enchanted “forest of protection” deep in the hubs, Victoria’s little ones quickly became less nervous to receive their first Covid vaccination.

Children were greeted by colourful stickers of kangaroos, koalas and echidnas on mint green walls.

Every child vaccinated at a hub also received a showbag full of goodies to calm the nerves.

Five-year-old Lincoln received his vaccination at the Sunshine Hospital hub, becoming one of the youngest Victorians to be protected against the virus.

“I’m really glad he could get vaccinated before he starts prep this year,” Lincoln’s mum, Huong Nguyen, said.

ISOLATION RULES CHANGED

Food distribution workers will be able to return to work even if they are a close contact of a Covid case under new rules to prevent shortages on supermarket shelves.

Acting chief health officer Ben Cowie on Monday announced an exemption system that will allow workers in food manufacturing, distribution and transport to avoid isolation if they and their employer both agree that they can go to work.

The exemption must only be used if necessary to help prevent the supply chain issues that are currently threatening Australian shops, as supermarkets warn of major shortages.

Under the rule changes starting at 11.59pm on Wednesday, a worker in this sector who is a close contact can be exempt from isolation but must be asymptomatic and take rapid tests for five days with negative results.

They must also be have breaks in solo areas, rather than share lunch rooms, and wear masks.

The rules follow similar guidelines introduced to ensure health services are less likely to experience staff shortages.

”While the Omicron wave does continue to grow, we also want to ensure that Victorians have continued access to essential food supplies,” Professor Cowie said.

National cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss supply chain issues, as well as children returning to school amid rising Omicron cases.