Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier said the state could consider allowing rapid antigen tests instead of PCR tests from January 1,while Prime Minister Scott Morrison said testing would be examined at national cabinet.
“One of the big reasons we’ve got those queues in Victoria and NSW is you’ve got people who are required to get PCR tests before they travel into other states. Now,that needs to be looked at,” the Prime Minister said.
“Rapid antigen testing in those situations would certainly be a more effective option.”
Mr Weimar also urged Victorians to use rapid antigen tests proactively when they were asymptomatic before attending events,for example.
He said the average waiting time at the state’s testing sites on Tuesday was 71 minutes,when a record 92,262 of COVID-19 test results were processed.
“The reason we suspend new people coming into testing stations[is] we don’t want people sitting in queues for four or five hours where we can possibly avoid that,” Mr Weimar said.
He said the state could deal with an additional capacity of a few thousand before they were overwhelmed.
Victoria’s opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said governments should consider allowing travellers to use rapid antigen tests as a screening tool to alleviate the burden on PCR testing sites.
“[Lengthy queues at testing sites] is a lack of planning by the Andrews government in the lead up to Christmas time,as we’re reopening and people want to spend time with family and friends to get tested,and they just can’t,” Ms Crozier said.
Victoria records 1503 cases,six deaths
The line at St Vincent’s about 7am on Wednesday.
Victoria recorded 1503 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday,taking the total number of active cases in the state to 13,888. Six people died with the virus.
There are 394 people in hospital in Victoria with COVID-19. Of those,114 people are in intensive care:70 are active COVID-19 cases,while 44 have been cleared of the virus and 41 are on a ventilator.
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Victoria’s vaccination rate for over-12s stands at 92 per cent after another 17,443 people rolled up their sleeves to receive a jab at a state-run vaccine hub.
NSW recorded 3763 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday,a new daily record during the pandemic,and two deaths. It eclipsed Tuesday’s numbers of3057 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths.
Mr Weimar said more than 350,000 Victorians had received their booster shots,but another 400,000 were eligible to get them.
There were about 20 clinics across the state offering either Pfizer or Moderna boosters,he said,and authorities were bringing more state-run hubs online to assist the rollout in early January.
Omicron cases in Victoria grow
Victoria now has 61 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19,all of which were in isolation. Mr Weimar said they were all international arrivals,or close contacts from the Newcastle and Sydney clusters. Thirty acquired their infection overseas and 31 in Australia.
The number is up from a total of 37 cases on Monday,after Victoria recorded no new cases of the Omicron variant on Tuesday.
“We are obviously concerned about the cases that we’re seeing continuing to rise ... in NSW,and given the high level of movement between our two states,we would expect to see Omicron cases continuing to spread here,which means it’s down to all of us to please keep on top of those basic COVID-safe measures,” Mr Weimar said.
“If you’re indoors,wear a mask. If you’re going to gather with people ... if you can do it outside,please do it outside.
“If you’re going to be indoors,open your windows and make use of the good weather that we’re enjoying at this point in time.”
Premier interrupts leave to attend national cabinet
Premier Daniel Andrews will briefly return from leave to attend a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday,after Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened the urgent meeting to discuss the Omicron variant,mask mandates and COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Neither Mr Andrews nor Acting Premier James Merlino are expected to give an update after the meeting.
However,one Victorian health official,speaking anonymously to detail confidential considerations,said curbs on high-risk indoor events such as closed-roof Rod Laver Arena matches could be a non-invasive measure to yield a public health benefit.
Slashing the interval between second COVID-19 vaccine doses and booster shots will also be discussed at national cabinet on Wednesday.
With Rachel Clun,Paul Sakkal,Sumeyya Ilanbey,Dana Daniel and Lucy Carroll
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