Victoria has posted a national record 1763 new local cases of COVID-19 and four deaths, as tradies get back on the tools after a two-week construction shutdown.
The new cases, confirmed by the Department of Health on Tuesday, marks the highest daily tally of any Australian state or territory since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The previous national record of 1603 was set by NSW just over four weeks ago when its outbreak peaked.
It is the sixth day in a row 1000-plus cases have been reported in Victoria, pushing up the number of active infections in the state to 14,368.
More than 62,000 Victorians were tested for the virus in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, while 35,253 vaccinations were administered at state-run sites.
The four latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 57.
The new national daily case record comes as construction workers were allowed to return to worksites on Tuesday, after the two-week shutdown in Melbourne and other locked-down areas.
All on-site workers must now have at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and be fully vaccinated by November 13.
A COVID marshal will be placed at every worksite across the state and workforce caps remain, except for outdoor state government projects.
All operators needed to formally attest their site complies with the new industry health directions including the vaccine mandate before reopening.
“They will be held to account through randomised checks to make sure that they are compliant, and there are consequences for incorrectly attesting,” Treasurer Tim Pallas told reporters at parliament on Tuesday.
The industry-wide vaccine mandate, and other restrictions brought in to curb transmission, sparked a protest outside the CFMEU’s Melbourne headquarters on September 20, the day the state government announced the sector would down tools.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said tens of thousands of construction workers had since come forward to meet the first-dose requirement, but could not say what proportion of the industry is now vaccinated.
Mr Pallas hinted the rate would be revealed later on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, final-year Victorian students are arriving at schools across the state on Tuesday for the rescheduled General Achievement Test.
Some 33 VCE students from COVID-19 hotspots were among Monday’s 1377 new cases, after 8000 were tested in the lead up to the annual test.
They will not be able to sit the GAT, an annual three-hour test that does not count towards their ATAR results, but can take their exams at a later date.
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
