More than 87 per cent of the state’s population aged 12 and over is fully vaccinated.
On Monday there were 860 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Victoria, 17 of which were in Greater Shepparton.
Sadly five Victorians infected with COVID-19 died in the same reporting period.
The total number of active cases across the state was 17,518 as of Monday morning, and there were 378 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital — slightly below the seven-day hospitalisation average at the time of 444.
Year 8 students from Greater Shepparton Secondary College studied remotely on Monday, after a confirmed COVID-19 case attended the school between November 9 and November 11.
The school was not required to close, and potential primary close contacts were identified and contacted throughout the day.
GSSC is not the only school affected by positive cases; The News understands a number of primary and high schools around Shepparton have sent students into isolation after exposure during the past few weeks.
On November 8 the Victorian Government announced free rapid antigen testing for unvaccinated school children who were primary close contacts of a COVID-19 case, in an effort to reduce students’ mandatory quarantine time from 14 to seven days.
Kindergartens and long daycare centres were offered the same one week later, on November 15.
Eligible kindergarten and long daycare services can opt in to the Victorian Government’s program to receive at-home rapid antigen test kits for children identified as primary close contacts.
Test kits will be distributed to eligible services by the end of this week, ready to be used from Monday, November 22.
Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt said the Andrews Government wanted to help young children get back to face-to-face learning with their teachers and educators as quickly and safely as possible.
“These rapid antigen tests will help limit disruption for our children and their families while supporting our early childhood services," she said.
