Coronavirus update for Victoria – 12 March 2022

COVID-19 Data

There are 175 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria – with 12 active cases in ICU, including 4 on a ventilator, and an additional 10 cleared cases in ICU.

6,020,300 vaccine doses have been administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services, with 6,714 administered yesterday at state-run centres. 2,031 of the doses administered yesterday were for children aged 5 to 11 years, 1,861 of which were second doses.

62.2 per cent of Victorians aged 18 and over have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. 94.1 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have had two doses. 56.3 per cent of Victorians aged between 5 and 11 years have had one dose.

6,075 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded yesterday. This includes:

• 4,031 who tested positive on a Rapid Antigen Test
• 2,044 who returned a positive result on a PCR test

Sadly, the Department was notified yesterday of 11 deaths of people aged in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Two of these deaths occurred in the past two days and a further three deaths occurred in the past week. The remaining six deaths occurred in February.

This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 2,640.

There are 40,530 active cases in Victoria.

16,873 PCR tests were processed yesterday. The total number of PCR tests performed in Victoria since the pandemic began is 19,688,532.

Updates

Workplace vaccine requirements

Vaccine mandates for some workforces apply from 11.59pm tonight, Saturday 12 March.

The following workers (including contractors, volunteers, and students on placement) are required to show evidence to their employer they have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to work onsite: Residential aged care workers, disability care workers, custodial workers, emergency services workers, meat and seafood processing workers, quarantine accommodation workers and food distribution workers.

These workers are required to get their third dose by 11.59pm tonight, Saturday 12 March 2022.

Healthcare workers who received their second dose before the 12 September are required to get their third dose by 11.59pm tonight. Those workers who received their second dose after 12 September 2021 are required to get their third dose by 11.59pm on 29 March 2022. Third dose vaccination requirements do not apply to workers, including volunteers, aged under 18 years or those with a medical exemption.

Read more about receiving your third dose requirements at Worker vaccination requirements.

Links and contacts

• Report your positive Rapid Antigen Test or find more information about Rapid Antigen Tests
• Follow your COVID Checklist if you test positive or you are a contact of someone with COVID-19
• Get your vaccine through GPs or community pharmacies through the Vaccine Clinic Finder
• Get information on managing COVID-19 at home and getting the right support for your symptoms
• See where and how you can get vaccinated at state-run centres
• Find your nearest testing centre
• Current COVIDSafe settings for living and working in Victoria
• Financial support is available if you have been impacted by COVID-19
• View Victoria’s Pandemic Order Register

To access the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Victoria, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website or call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also call the Victorian Aboriginal COVID Information Line on 1800 312 911. Callers will speak with Aboriginal staff who can answer questions about COVID-19 and direct them to relevant support services. The information line is open from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.