Bendigo Health will receive 45 additional beds as part of an $80 million investment by the state government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The new beds, which will be available within the next 12 weeks, are part of a broader $437 million health funding boost to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The 45 additional beds will be made available as demand emerges and may be located across two wards in the hospital," a Bendigo Health spokesperson said.
Read more: Qantas to stand down 20,000 staff
The availability of personal protective equipment, including masks and gowns, was flagged by Bendigo Health chief executive Peter Faulkner as being a challenge for not only Bendigo Health, but health services nationwide.
The state government has announced $22 million, in addition to a previous $10 million allocation for personal protective equipment, to bolster stocks.
This will include 275 million pairs of gloves, 8.6 million face masks and 1.7 million gowns.
Premier Daniel Andrews said hospital staff are working around the clock.
"We'll make sure they have the equipment they need to stay safe," Mr Andrews said.
The state's public health staff are being supported by $37 million to increase surveillance across the state and allow for more targeted case identification, contact tracing and isolation advice.
The contact tracing team will increase from 57 to 230 people.
The majority of Victoria's 150 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Melbourne, with this afternoon, the Department of Health confirming five regional cases, including three in Geelong, one in the Latrobe Valley and one in Ballarat.
Read more:
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.