PREMIER Daniel Andrews’ controversial Pandemic Bill has been triggered and has given the Minister for Health the authority to execute pandemic orders.

This came as the state recorded 34,808 new cases yesterday.

The number of patients with COVID-19 in hospital has risen to 818, 118 patients were in intensive care including 28 on ventilators and sadly there have been two more deaths.

As such, the Pandemic declaration has been made to support the Omicron response as part of Victoria’s overall response to the global coronavirus pandemic and will apply to the state of Victoria from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 January, for three months.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 was intended to be fit-for-purpose legislation to respond to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, and any new pandemics that may arise in the future.

The current declaration was made under section 165AE of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 after consultation with and consideration of advice from the Minister for Health and Acting Chief Health Officer and other relevant factors, including social and economic factors.

The Statement of Reasons, and the advice of the Acting CHO and the Minister for Health will be tabled in Parliament.

 “The Omicron variant means there are significant challenges ahead of us,” Premier Andrews said.

“The third dose vaccine rollout, and our children five to 11-year-old vaccination blitz will give us the strongest chance of meeting this challenge.

“Extending the pandemic declaration ensures we are able to put the measures in place to slow the rate of transmission and protect the community’s health and our health system.”

In making the declaration the Premier was satisfied on reasonable grounds there was a serious risk to public health throughout Victoria due to the coronavirus disease, including the rapid spread of the Omicron variant leading to significant case numbers not previously experienced in Victoria.

In particular, the Acting Chief Health Officer noted Omicron had become the dominant strain, estimated to account for more than 75 per cent of newly diagnosed cases.

While 93 per cent of Victorians over 12 years have received two vaccine doses against coronavirus, there is currently a low proportion of Victorians who have received a third dose.

More than one million Victorians are now eligible for a third dose which is a high public health priority.

Child vaccinations started yesterday and the State Government is helping hundreds of general practices and community pharmacies to increase the number of people across the state get a third dose.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available under the $5 million COVID-19 Vaccination Primary Care Grants Program to help providers maximise their vaccination service through extended hours, expanded capacity, provide support for people with specific needs and hiring extra staff such as immunisers and interpreters.

Health minister, Martin Foley said that the grants are open to GPs and pharmacies authorised to administer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which will help primary care providers deliver vaccinations across 23 Local Government Areas where there is lower primary care coverage, including Southern Grampians.

“We’re helping primary care providers deliver vaccines to Victorians through expanded services, increased workforces and extended hours,” he said.

The Acting Chief Health Officer also noted the continuing rise in hospital and intensive care unit admissions, with no indication that Victoria has reached its peak, as well as the potential significant negative impact on essential services and supply chains.

With the rapid spread of Omicron through the community has forced people to queue for hours for PCR tests, sometimes being turned away and left scrambling to find rapid antigen tests (RATs).

The Nationals Leader MP, Peter Walsh said that the Liberals and Nationals were calling for preparatory action on RATs back in August 2021 and again when they were fully approved by authorities in November.

“However, the government responded by calling it a ‘desperate political stunt’,” Mr Walsh said.

“It’s now clear that the Liberals and Nationals were right to call for action on RATs.

“In September, Minister Foley promised that the Labor Government would stockpile rapid tests, but they have since been silent on that stockpile - I think it is only fair to assume that the stockpile doesn’t exist.

“They only ordered the RATs on Christmas Eve after three months of sitting on their hands - those tests would do so much.

“As the Omicron variant sweeps across Victoria, we are all feeling the impacts of the virus and the State Labor Government’s response.”

Western District Health Service recorded 58 new cases for the 24 hour period to 9pm on Sunday 9 January.

The total number of people who have tested positive at the WDHS Drive-thru since Monday 3rd January, is 365.