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Coronavirus case numbers continue to climb in Greater Bendigo as the region records another 302 new cases overnight.
According to data from the Department of Health active cases in the area are now at 661.
For both new and active cases this is roughly an additional 100 cases in the last 24 hours compared to Wednesday's 24 hour increase.
Department of Health data indicates the majority of Bendigo's cases were found in postcodes 3550 and 3551.
Buloke Shire and Ganawarra each recorded 26 and 27 new cases respectively, while Mount Alexander Shire recorded 68.
There were an additional 113 new COVID cases in the Macedon Ranges overnight, bringing the shire's total to 572.
Loddon Shire recorded another 22 cases, more than doubling Wednesday's eight new cases.
This news comes after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a broadening of COVID isolation exemptions across several more industries in light of extensive staff shortages.
Earlier
Victoria has recorded another 37,169 COVID-19 cases overnight.
The new infections were detected from 16,843 at-home rapid antigen tests and 20,326 laboratory-run PCR tests.
Sadly, another 25 people have died from the virus and its complications, according to Department of Health statistics.
A total of 953 spent Wednesday in hospital with COVID-19,111 in intensive care and 29 on ventilators.
It comes after the municipality saw it's largest increase since the beginning of the pandemic as Greater Bendigo recorded 208 cases.
These numbers come as it was announced that one thousand first year health students and retired nurses will soon be part of an expanded vaccination workforce which will be deployed across Victoria's state-run centres in the coming months.
Known as Limited Scope COVID-19 Vaccinators, the new additions will join current nurse and pharmacist immunisers in state-run vaccination clinics for up to six months and will be supervised by experienced clinicians.
Acting Health Minister James Merlino said the expanded workforce was another way to "deal with the demand on our health system".
"With comprehensive training and supervision, we're helping 1000 Victorians in relevant fields get the training they need to join our vaccination efforts," he said.
"COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective - the best thing all Victorians can do to protect the health system and keep their families safe is get your third dose as soon as you're eligible.
"Millions of Victorians will soon be eligible for their third dose, and we're doing everything we can to ensure the community can access a vaccine as quickly and as safely as possible."
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