Victoria has recorded more than 1400 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths, as quarantine-free international travel returns to Melbourne.
Shoppers queue to enter a department store in Melbourne, as the city further lifts Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: AFP or licensors
There are now more than 21,959 active cases in the state, and 309 people have died during the current Delta outbreak.
The new cases were identified from 46,065 test results received yesterday.
There are now 699 people in hospital with Covid-19 in Victoria, of whom 136 are in intensive care, and 86 are on a ventilator.
The seven-day average for people in hospital is now 742.
Hospitalisations during the current outbreak peaked on 18 October when 851 people were in hospital.
Now for the first time in 18 months, people have begun arriving from overseas without being required to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel.
Flights from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo arrived today while fully vaccinated passengers were also able to depart.
Victoria is expected to reach the target of having 90 percent of its population aged 12 and over fully vaccinated by 24 November.
That will trigger more easing of restrictions, including the removal of density limits.
NSW offers booster shots as state records four deaths
Meanwhile, vaccination hubs and pharmacies are now offering booster Covid-19 shots for New South Wales residents after the state recorded 135 new cases and four deaths.
The number of local Covid-19 cases recorded yesterday was the lowest daily number since 22 July.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the booster program would prioritise high-risk workers across the state.
"We'll move the focus as the need is required," he said.
"I think that will be less relevant for location and more relevant for those higher risk areas that should take priority when rolling out the program."
More than 93 percent of the adult population of the state have now had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 87.7 percent are fully vaccinated.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW could be "one of the highest vaccinated jurisdictions in the world".
"The people of NSW can be proud of our vaccination rate, and there's no reason we can't reach 95 percent double-dose vaccination to help ensure we get on top of this pandemic," Hazzard said.
In the 12-15 age group, 79.3 percent have had their first dose, and 61.8 percent are fully vaccinated.
Perrottet did not rule out changing the date for unvaccinated people to be allowed the same freedoms, currently scheduled for 1 December
"We're looking at it ... we're always re-examining the roadmap," he said.
ACT records two deaths, five cases
The ACT has recorded five new local Covid-19 cases and two deaths.
The two people who died with Covid-19 yesterday were a man in his 60s and a woman in her 70s. Both had been in ICU prior to their deaths.
There are currently eight people in hospital and three in ICU.
- ABC
