COVID-19: New rent relief package announced as Victoria records 246 new local cases

Victoria recorded 246 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases yesterday.

Of the new cases, 125 have not yet been linked to known outbreaks or cases.

There are now 1619 active COVID-19 cases in the state. All but five are locally-acquired cases.

There are currently 92 people in Victorian hospitals with COVID-19. Of those, 26 are in intensive care and 14 are on ventilators.

Eighty of the people in hospital were not vaccinated — 13 were not eligible at the time they were diagnosed and the other 67 were eligible but had not been vaccinated.

Ten people in hospital were partially vaccinated and one was fully-vaccinated. The fully vaccinated person will be discharged today.

More than 1000 exposure sites are now on the Health Department’s list.

There were 42,258 COVID-19 test results received yesterday and 26,955 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs.

Of the 246 new local cases, 121 are linked to known cases and outbreaks. Further case information will be provided this morning. [2/2]

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) September 5, 2021

The state government has announced a new rent relief package for Victorians who have lost income due to the pandemic and are struggling to pay their rent.

A one-off grant of up to $1500 will be available to Victorian renters who are paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent and ahve lost 20 per cent or more of their income due to lockdowns.

Victoria’s homelessness program putting rough sleepers up in hotel accommodation has also been extended until the end of June.