Cases down

Moira Shire has recorded 33 new COVID-19 cases in the 24-hour period to midday on Tuesday, February 15, bringing active case numbers to 260.

NCN Health chief executive Jacque Phillips has confirmed the health service has been outbreak and exposure-sitefree for two weeks.

“We are experiencing some staff shortages due to a combination of COVID illness, household contact isolation requirements and general sick leave,” she said.

“However, NCN Health is maintaining health care to our residents and the community by diverting staff to essential services.”

COVID-19 testing continues to be available with the health service.

Victoria recorded 2034 new cases from PCR tests and 6128 cases from rapid antigen tests for the latest 24-hour reporting period on Tuesday, February 15. This brings statewide active case numbers to 50,967, which is a reduction of 2740 people.

There are 441 people in hospital, down 24 from the previous day though 32 people remain in intensive care.

Sadly, another 20 people have died.

After three weeks in place, the state ended its pandemic Code Brown on Monday, February 14 following steady reductions in hospitalisations and fewer staff furloughs.

The Code Brown has given short-term relief to stretched public hospitals and ambulance services through the

Omicron peak.

Now, up to 75 per cent of non-urgent elective surgery can be done in regional areas in public and private hospitals, while Melbourne hospitals can perform up to 50 per cent of such surgeries.

Regional Victorian public hospitals will also be able to resume all category two elective surgery depending on workforce availability.

“Victoria’s first ever pandemic Code Brown has been an extraordinary system-wide effort which allowed us to prioritise care in the face of significant pressure — providing much-needed support for our exhausted healthcare workers,” Health Minister Martin Foley said.

“As that pressure continues to ease, now is the right time to lift it.”