12.10pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
GREATER Bendigo recorded an extra 66 cases on Sunday, newly released Department of Health data shows.
It now has a total of 623 cases - two more than the same period on Saturday.
Of the new cases, 14 were found in Bendigo's 3550 postcode, 18 in the regional 3551 area, 16 in Kangaroo Flat's 3555 and seven in Eaglehawk's 3556.
Another four cases were found in Marong's 3515 postcode.
Elsewhere in the region, Kyneton's Macedon Ranges Shire recorded 15 new cases and Castlemaine's Mount Alexander five.
Maryborough's Central Goldfields Shire and the Loddon Shire recorded two new cases each.
The Campaspe and Gannawarra shires recorded new case each.
Earlier
Victoria has recorded just over 10,000 new COVID cases along with eight deaths overnight.
The daily number was made up of 6,485 positive rapid antigen tests and 3,568 PCR test results. There was a total of 16,298 PCR tests done on Sunday.
The new cases take Victoria's active cases to 76,335 down from the 78,294 active cases listed on Sunday.
Read more:
Hospitals are caring for 873 COVID-positive cases including 102 in intensive care and 33 on ventilators.
Over the weekend Greater Bendigo recorded 172 new cases including 67 on Sunday and 105 on Saturday.
On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews said he believed the current Omicron outbreak was past its peak after speaking with the Chief Health Officer.
"The Chief Health Officer is of the view we have seen that peak but with school coming back it will be challenging," he said. "But our staff, students and parent communities are working as hard as they can."
Read more: Three times the fun as triplets start school
"There will be cases that add to our tally but the benefits of having school back far outweigh the challenges," Mr Andrews said. "The view of many experts is that we are past the peak and the data supports that."
As students prepare to return to schools today, staff after feeling extra secure thanks to the plan to conduct twice-weekly rapid antigen tests.
"To have access to rapid-antigen tests for staff to surveillance test twice a week gives an extra measure of confidence to staff as well as families," Jenny's ELC managing director Darren Reid said.
"Obviously early childhood has the most vulnerable children in our with children under five unable to be vaccinated. So it has been important for us making sure we have fantastic hygiene and ventilation is key.
"The best thing for us is to be able to access and be testing educators to increase staff's feeling of safety."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Download our app on iOS and Android
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News