There are 535 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria - with 18 active cases in ICU, including 9 on a ventilator, and an additional 7 cleared cases in ICU.
6,335,560 vaccine doses have been administered by Victoria's state-commissioned services.
69.5 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have had 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. 94.7 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have had 2 doses.
4,858 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded yesterday. This includes 3,935 who tested positive on a rapid antigen test and 923 who returned a positive result on a PCR test.
Sadly, the Department was notified of 20 deaths yesterday of people aged in their 40s, 50s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 100s. The total number of COVID-related deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began is 4,975. The number of COVID-related deaths recorded in Victoria so far this year is 3,364.
The Victorian Department of Health regularly undertakes reviews and audits of the state's reported deaths to ensure the accuracy of our COVID-19 mortality figures.
The Victorian Department of Health is formally notified of deaths of people known to have COVID-19 via a number of different sources, including the Victorian Death Index, Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS), the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and local public health units. The department updates its confirmed death statistics daily.
There are 27,203 active cases in Victoria. The number of active cases in Victoria continues to decline from a peak of 71,428 recorded on 23 July.
8,510 PCR tests were processed yesterday. The total number of PCR tests performed in Victoria since the pandemic began is 22,032,188.
Updates
Free masks to keep Victorians safe this winter
More than 3 million N95 and KN95 masks will be handed out to the community through Victoria's state-run testing centres, community health services and across the public transport network.
Over the coming weeks, every person that presents for either a free rapid antigen or PCR test will receive one box of 10 masks along with instructions on how best to wear them to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Masks will also be distributed through some of Victoria's community organisations including at multicultural, multi-faith events and Aboriginal gatherings as well as through a number of disability service providers.
Mask wearing is strongly recommended if you are indoors in a public space or outside in a crowded place where you can't physically distance. People who are at risk of severe COVID illness are encouraged to wear a mask whenever in public.
