GREATER Bendigo has recorded 81 new COVID-19 cases as cases linked to a local aged care centre drop from three to two.

The new cases bring the total number of active cases to 518.

Bupa Bendigo now has two active COVID-19 cases, according to Department of Health data tracking outbreaks at aged care facilities.

More news: Students miss out as schools in Greater Bendigo struggle with RAT shortages

It is one of 18 facilities with active cases in Victoria.

The facility managing the highest number of cases is South Morang's Bupa Aged Care with 25 cases, followed by Mill Park's Bethel Aged Care with 13 and Roxburgh Park Moran Aged Care with nine.

Greater Bendigo's cases included 35 found in Bendigo's 3550 postcode, 18 within the regional 3551, 11 in Kangaroo Flat's 3555 and nine in Eaglehawk's 3556.

Heathcote's 3523 postcode recorded one new case.

Elsewhere in the region, Macedon Ranges Shire recorded 28 cases, Mount Alexander Shire 11, the Central Goldfields nine, Gannawarra eight, Campaspe seven and Loddon four.

Earlier

Victoria has recorded 14,553 new COVID cases along with another 25 deaths overnight.

The daily number was made up of 6931 positive rapid antigen tests and 7621 PCR test results. There was a total of 35,030 PCR tests done on Tuesday.

More news:

The new cases take Victoria's active cases to 73,886 up from the 72,710 active cases listed on Tuesday.

It is the first rise in active case since January 21. Victoria's active cases have been decreasing since January 21 when they were 252,399.

Hospitals are caring for 768 COVIDpositive cases including 99 in intensive care and 31 on ventilators.

It comes as the Federal Government announced a system which will see aged care staff soon be able to access two bonus payments of up to $400 each under a $209 million package.

Other news: Echuca Police investigate reports of potential drug spiking as multiple women report being injected with needles

More than 400 aged care residents have contracted COVID this month alone and more than half of aged care facilities are managing active outbreaks.

Local aged care workers from multiple facilities also told The Advertiser they had to pay for their own rapid antigen tests on a number of occasions.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: