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Victoria's Covid crisis: Daily infections hit highest peak ever

Victoria’s Covid crisis has escalated with another 1488 cases of the highly-infectious Delta variant reported on Saturday – the highest daily peak for the state since the pandemic began.

It brings the number of active cases in the state to a staggering 11,591.

Saturday's numbers come from more than 71,000 tests and eclipse the previous record of 1438 set just two days earlier.

The Department of Health confirmed a man in his 60s from the Hume and a man in his 60s from Mornington Peninsula have died from the virus overnight.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne on Friday, October 1, 2021.
Victoria recorded its biggest spike yet in Covid-19 cases on Saturday. Source: AAP

Authorised workers given weeks to get vaccinated

In the 24 hours to Saturday morning, 36,878 Victorians received the Covid-19 jab.

It comes after the Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday set a two-week deadline for authorised workers in Victoria to get one dose of the vaccine.

All authorised workers in Melbourne and regional Victoria have until October 15 to get their first dose and November 26 to get their second.

Without meeting the statewide direction, they won't be allowed to continue working on site.

Every construction site must also have a designated fully trained Covid-19 marshal and an up-to-date vaccination register available for compliance checks.

More regions locked down as cases surge

Residents in greater Shepparton and the Moorabool Shire have woken to a snap seven-day lockdown amid rising cases of the virus.

The new restrictions are the same as those in metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew.

It comes after caseloads across Shepparton in the state's north surged to 24 on Friday.

Meanwhile, six new infections were detected in the Moorabool, bringing the number of active cases in the western regional area to 32.

Both local government area has been equipped with additional testing capacity and support to cope with increased demand.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said on Saturday the strict stay-at-home orders are a blow to the communities.

"Especially after the hard work and the sacrifice they have made through the recent lockdown," he said.

Mr Andrews on Friday described the new regional restrictions "unavoidable".

"These lockdowns have been effective in bringing stability to case numbers and driving case numbers down," he said.

"But on advice and very careful analysis, this is unavoidable that a lockdown must be applied to that community."

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