Victoria tops 700 Covid cases again, infected protester in hospital
Victoria has recorded another 733 new locally-acquired Covid cases on Friday and one person who had the virus has died.
The state's health department said 56,520 test results were received and 41,029 vaccines administered in the previous 24 hours.
There are now 7,160 active Covid cases in the state and authorities are expected to provide more details later today.
A woman aged in her 80s died and her death take's the death toll of the most recent outbreak to 21.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said there are now 297 people in hospital, with 66 of those people in intensive care and 46 patients on a ventilator.
Of those in hospital, 77 per cent of patients have not been vaccinated, 19 per cent have received one dose. four per cent are fully vaccinated.
"This continues to be an overwhelming outbreak among both the unvaccinated and disproportionately younger Victorians,' Mr Foley said.
Of the new infections, 84 per cent were among those aged under 50-years-old.
On Thursday, cases in Victoria surged to 766, the highest ever recorded in the pandemic, surpassing the peak seen last year during the state's second wave.
Protester in hospital with Covid
Among the new cases is a protester who attended the rally in Melbourne's CBD on Wednesday.
The protester is now in hospital with Covid and others who attended the rally are being encouraged to get tested.
"We are urging protesters to get tested should they experience Covid-like symptoms, no matter how mild," a spokesperson with the health department said on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Deb Friedman had warned the out-of-control protests could become superspreader events, given the infectiousness of the Delta variant and the fact most protesters flouted mask and social distancing rules.
The protests started in opposition to mandatory Covid vaccines for construction workers and tea room sites being closed.
However, the demonstrations have morphed into a broader anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine movement.
According to the ABC, more than 50 per cent of Australians aged over 16 are now fully vaccinated.
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