Victoria records 1188 new Covid-19 cases, 11 more deaths

Victoria recorded 1188 new Covid-19 cases and 11 more deaths on Friday as health authorities warn the Omicron variant “of concern” could have already leaked into the state.

There are 289 infected Victorians in hospital, with 43 in intensive care and 22 on a ventilator.

More than 91 per cent of eligible Victorians are now fully vaccinated.

Health Minister Martin Foley said while the new variant had not yet been found in the state, he flagged there was a high possibility it was already here.

“We wouldn‘t be surprised, given the arrangements that we’ve seen in NSW and around the globe, that it might well be ticking along out there at the moment, but there’s been no cases reported so far,” he said on Thursday.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he believed a third dose of the vaccine would be critical in fighting new variants.

He said despite the rise in new cases, there were less hospital admissions.

“We’re still doing that work to firm up our view that while this is much more transmissible, it’s much more infectious, it moves more quickly, it is presenting relatively mildly,” Mr Andrews said.

“Given the speed at which it moves, it may well replace the Delta variant, and if it does produce more mild disease, then that’s not a bad thing.

“We just have to have all of that confirmed.”