Victoria records 80 new local COVID-19 cases
Victoria has recorded its largest spike in Covid cases since the second wave, with 80 new infections overnight and Premier Daniel Andrews has warned Victoria's outbreak is being fuelled by people with symptoms waiting days to get tested.
Mr Andrews also said there were "not many more levers we can pull" to rein in rising case numbers, with compliance being the main factor which would see infection rates drop.
“One of the commonsense, practical things you can do if you have symptoms today: Get tested today,” he said.
“Please don’t visit friends or family. The visitor that no one knows about is the coronavirus.
“You are taking it with you to the people that you love. You don’t want them to get sick. Don’t act in a selfish and irresponsible way.” Mr Andrews said.
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton has outlined a worrying trend in the state's Delta infections and urged people with the slightest of symptoms to get tested. He said that three out of four cases of transmission has been occurring in people without symptoms or before symptoms have been developed.
"We know it moves very fast. We know it causes really significant illness," he said.
"What's become apparent in recent weeks is that maybe three-quarters of transmission with the Delta variant occurs without symptoms or before you've developed symptoms.
"So it is really critically important as well to minimise those contact, to not go out if you don't have to and to absolutely wear a mask and maintain social distancing in all the circumstances that you can.
Massive queues returned to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre vaccine hub on Thursday, with a long line stretching down Spencer St before doors even opened at 8am.
Pfizer eligibility was expanded to Victorians aged between 16 and 39 on Wednesday, sparking a huge rush for bookings.
Mr Andrews conceded there were issues with as tens of thousands of Victorians tried to book a vaccine appointment, but urged people to stick it out.
There are currently 46 Victorians in hospital with Covid-19, eight of whom are on a ventilator. More than 56,000 people were tested for Covid on Wednesday