GREATER Bendigo has recorded another 17 new cases of COVID-19 taking the total number of active cases in the region to 141.

There has been a total of 856 COVID-19 cases in the region since the beginning of the pandemic.

Campaspe Shire recorded one new cases, while Loddon Shire, Mount Alexander Shire and Central Goldfields Shire each recorded one.

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The Macedon Ranges recorded three new cases.

Earlier

VICTORIA has recorded 918 new coronavirus cases as Greater Bendigo's total numbers hover above 120.

Another six people have died statewide.

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A total of 305 people were in hospital with COVID-19, while 41 people were receiving intensive care and 19 patients were on ventilators.

Another 45,000 tests were performed at state run clinics. About 91 per cent of the state is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Another 17 COVID-19 cases were recorded on Monday, with a total of 129 cases being managed.

The Omicron variant has now arrived on Australian shores following the confirmed positive testing of travellers who arrived in NSW at the weekend.

Whether this strain is resistant to the vaccines is yet to be seen, but experts are concerned that this strain has the most mutations so far seen on a coronavirus variant.

WATCH: What is the Omicron variant?

Over the next fortnight, the Bendigo Blood Centre needs about 210 additional people to give blood and plasma.

Lifeblood spokesperson Shae Burns said the demand for blood and plasma continues to grow.

Meanwhile, a teenage boy was taken to Bendigo Health after he was struck by a car in Junortoun Monday morning.

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The accident, which occurred out near Catherine McAuley College's Coolock campus on Trotting Terrace, left the boy with upper body injuries including a broken wrist.

Bendigo's Buddhist community has also revealed plans for an eight bedroom nunnery at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion.

The nunnery could become one of the latest additions in Myers Flat, which already contains a monastery, extensive gardens and other public spaces.

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