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An influx of rapid antigen tests is expected in Victoria soon, as the hospital system continues to struggle with demand.
One in five people are now testing positive to COVID-19 in Victoria, with a shortage of rapid antigen tests leaving many stranded.
The Victorian government has ordered 34 million of the tests, and hundreds of thousands of them are expected in coming days.
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But how they will be distributed to the public remains unclear.
Hospitals in Melbourne have urged people to stay away unless they are experiencing a genuine emergency, with Triple Zero calls for mild COVID-19 symptoms on the rise.
Victoria recorded 8577 new cases yesterday, as state COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar warned anyone who becomes symptomatic "should assume they are already positive" for COVID-19 as the state experiences "never before seen positivity rates".
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Mr Weimar said so far this year, Victoria has already seen more positive cases than the entire first year of the pandemic.
"We are already seeing in the space of three days, more people being infected than over the course of the entire first year of the pandemic," he said.
Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the government would strengthen its state-run vaccination clinics to help with booster availability and shots for children.
A further 28 pop up clinics will be open from January 5 across the state.
"We are ensuring that up to 300,000 Victorians can get vaccinated every week, through our ramped up state-run clinics, and we look forward to meeting that number," Mr Foley said.
Source: 9News
