VICTORIAN COVID UPDATE | Monday, December 6
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NEW CASES: 1,073 (up from 980 yesterday)
DEATHS: 6 (down from 7 yesterday)
ACTIVE CASES: 16,503 (up from 15,433 yesterday)
IN HOSPITAL: 310 (up from 299 yesterday)
IN ICU: 45 (up from 40 yesterday)
ON VENTILATOR: 19 (up from 16 yesterday)
Victoria has recorded 1073 new COVID-19 infections and another six deaths, as the premier pledges to try to keep the state's border open amid the Omicron variant spreading elsewhere.
The health department confirmed on Monday the state is now managing 16,503 active COVID-19 cases.
There are 310 patients in the state's hospitals, 90 of whom are in intensive care and 19 requiring ventilation.
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The seven-day hospitalisation average has risen by three to 297.
Virus testers processed 56,337 results on Sunday, while 1513 people were vaccinated in state-run hubs.
More than 91 per cent of Victorians over 12 are fully vaccinated.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews says the state won't pursue an "Omicron zero" strategy, despite it being among Australian states yet to record a known case.
In Ballarat, COVID cases reached their highest daily numbers for a number of months over the weekend.
On Saturday there were 11 new cases recorded, with four confirmed on Sunday.
There was also a mass of protesters, mostly from Melbourne, who swarmed the city on Sunday to protest against government mandates.
Meanwhile, South Australia reimposed testing requirements for all arrivals from Victoria, NSW and the ACT on Saturday over concerns about the new strain, and Premier Steven Marshall hasn't ruled out shutting the border altogether.
Mr Andrews said he and his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet texted about the new variant and are aligned on working to keep borders open ahead of Christmas.
"I've never been one to criticise other states making what they believe to be the right choice, but we will not be pursuing an 'Omicron zero' here," he told reporters on Sunday.
"We don't think that makes any sense. It may already be here. The good news so far is whilst it's more infectious, the evidence suggests it is milder."
