Mr Weimar said that additional testing resources and teams deployed in the Albury-Wodonga area last week would remain there, and the high demand for testing reflected the usual cycle for regional areas: a busy, three-day testing period during which the People responded to calls to action.
As of Tuesday, 83,210 tests were processed across Victoria, a new record for the state.
“As we enjoy the benefits of last weekend and the opening and far busier streets and cafes, it is really encouraging to see Victorians continue to come forward to be tested when symptoms set in,” said Weimar.
Victoria recorded 1,534 new coronavirus cases and 13 deaths on Wednesday, including a man in his thirties, a woman in his forties, four men and one woman in her sixties, two men and three women in her eighties, and one woman in her nineties.
More than 90 percent of Victorians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 75 percent of those ages 16 and older are fully vaccinated.
77,871 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Victoria on Tuesday, including 24,180 doses in state centers, while more than 83,210 test results were processed.
But Mr Weimar said that despite repeated calls from authorities to roll up their sleeves, about half a million Victorians still received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
He said vaccine uptake is delayed in people aged 20 and over, which puts them at risk. About 83 percent of people in this age group received their first dose of the vaccine, compared to nearly 92 percent across the country.
Victorians who are not fully immunized continue to make up the bulk of infections and hospitalizations, with 85 percent of cases on Tuesday involving people who had not received both doses of the vaccine.
“If you are one of those half a million people … we really want to encourage you now to get vaccinated,” said Weimar.
“The rest of us won’t stop, we’ll move on.
“We’re 80 percent on the right track, we’re 90 percent on the right track later in November, but we want to take everyone with us and make sure they have the vaccine protection by this time. ”
Unvaccinated is allowed to enter retail stores
Unvaccinated customers will be allowed to shop in non-essential retail stores starting Friday, but will be locked out of the same stores once vaccination hits 90 percent.
The state is expected to hit this milestone on Nov. 24, allowing unvaccinated people to shop alongside vaccinated Victorians for nearly a month before being locked out.
COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar clarified the restrictions during a press conference on Wednesday morning after confusion about which rules would apply. He compared the rules to a grace period to encourage people to get the jab.
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“We are sending a very clear signal that if you want to be active in such retail environments after 90 percent, if you want to be active in such retail environments,” he said.
There are currently 24,164 active cases nationwide.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison used an early morning round of media appearances on Wednesday to confirm that Australians will soon be able to pack their bags and leave the Australian shores.
“I can announce today that the Minister of Health last night agreed to allow Australians who have been double-vaccinated to travel abroad from November 1st,” he said on Seven’s breakfast program, Sunrise.
“We’re looking forward to that.”
The Home Office previously stated on its website that “this could start sometime in November” after Mr Morrison announced the impending change on October 1.
Australia is also preparing to open a travel corridor with Singapore which would allow vaccinated Australians, permanent residents and family members to fly to the city-state without quarantine starting November 8th.
Singaporean students and business travelers are expected to be able to use the itinerary after Australia finalizes arrangements for the Southeast Asian country, the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority said Tuesday.
In the meantime, Rapid antigen tests are available for purchase from next week in major Australian supermarkets.
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Coles will be the first retailer to stock the 15-minute turnaround kits in 700 stores across the country, with Woolworths starting early November.
Until then, rapid antigen tests were only performed under clinical supervision, which meant that their use was limited to workplaces, hospitals and elderly care facilities.
Positive results are not taken into account in the state test data, but epidemiologists and public health experts believe the tests will help prevent transmission of the virus in workplaces, schools, and public transport.
They cost between $ 10 and $ 30 each and were approved for home use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration starting November 1.
With Sarah McPhee, Mary Ward, Lucy Carroll and Cassandra Morgan
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