State government secures 34 million rapid antigen tests, to be distributed by end of January

The state government has secured 34 million rapid antigen tests, which will be handed out for free by the end of January.

There will be 34 million of the test kits delivered to be "distributed widely" at the start of 2022 Health Minister Martin Foley said on Wednesday.

In his announcement, Minister Foley said the tests would help maintain the "gold standard" of testing in Victoria, and took a swipe at the federal government for not stepping up to "fill the gap."

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"The plan is very much to get them freely available and widely available," Mr Foley said.

As of January 4, the third COVID-19 vaccination interval will be brought forward from five months to four, seeing an extra million Victorians eligible for a booster.

From January 10 the pediatric vaccine will be rolled out for five to 11-year-olds, when around 578,000 young Victorians become eligible.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called a national cabinet meeting for Thursday as COVID cases skyrocket around Australia.

11.40am

GREATER Bendigo has recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases.

Data from the Department of Health released on Wednesday showed the new cases were from the 3550, 3551, 3555, and 3556 postcodes.

There are now 83 active coronavirus cases in Greater Bendigo.

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The data also showed nine new cases in the Macedon Ranges Shire, while a further four cases were listed in the Campaspe Shire.

Central Goldfields recorded two new cases on Wednesday and a single case was also listed in Mount Alexander.

There were zero new cases in the Loddon and Gannawarra shires.

Earlier

VICTORIA has recorded an extra 3767 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.in another large spike in daily case numbers.

It came after the state recorded a large spike in case numbers the day before with 2738 found - a rise of more than 700 on Sunday.

Case numbers have now more than doubled since Christmas Day.

On Tuesday, there were five deaths.

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A total of 397 are in hospital, 62 in intensive care units and 28 on ventilators.

Health workers have conducted 75,132 tests and administered 535 vaccine doses.

There are now close to 20,000 active COVID-19 cases across Victoria.

Greater Bendigo recorded six new cases on Monday but total active numbers fell to 70. The municipality should get updated numbers for the Tuesday period later on Wednesday.

-With AAP

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