Federal Health Minster’s message as Victoria’s COVID-19 cases jump

COVID-19 cases in Victoria have jumped by 22 per cent in the past week, with 20,398 new infections reported.

There were 46 deaths last week, up from 41 the week before, and the daily average number of hospitalisations is up to 352.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler told Neil Mitchell Australia is in the midst of another wave of the virus and he expects the peak will fall away before Christmas.

“I don’t think there’s any question case numbers and hospitalisations are going to increase for a little while,” he warned.

“The advice I’m getting is this is likely to follow the trajectory of Singapore … and their wave in the words of the technical advisors we receive advice from was ‘short and sharp’ and it’s come down very quickly.”

Press PLAY below to hear the Federal Health Minister’s message