Victoria records 950 new cases and seven deaths but experts warn there could 3,000 a day in October

Victoria has recorded 950 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths as experts warn the state could see up to 3,000 infections a day in a matter of weeks. 

Deakin University epidemiology chair Professor Catherine Bennett predicted the grim numbers could be seen in late October before infections start to drop.

Wednesday’s figures are the highest the state has seen in a single day since the start of the pandemic and came from 61,322 tests. 

Victoria’s daily cases on Tuesday put it in front on NSW for the first time since June, after 867 new infections were recorded.

While the figure representing how many have been infected on average has slightly dropped to 1.25, experts fear the recent protests will cause another spike in cases.

In some positive news for the southern state, less Covid patients are ending up in hospital due to the availability of vaccines.

Infectious diseases physician Professor Peter Collignon has meanwhile told the Herald Sun the prediction of cases nearing the 3,000 mark is a ‘a bit too pessimistic’.

He said the figure didn’t take into account the fact Australia was heading into summer or that vaccination rates would have improved by late October.

For NSW, their high number of cases started to drop once half the adult population were fully vaccinated, with experts hoping the same will be seen in Victoria.

Epidemiologist Tony Blakely said the surge in Victoria’s infections were mostly being seen in household-to-household contacts.

‘What’s happening is people are no longer keeping to their household bubble, and you’re seeing the virus spread, that explains why those numbers keep going up,’ he told the ABC. 

Popularity for Premier Daniel Andrews has fallen with data showing only 44 per cent of Victorians positively rated the government’s response to the pandemic

‘I think it’s almost impossible to predict exactly how long the case numbers will go up and when they will turn, but I’m pretty confident they won’t get to the 3,000s [in Victoria], but I’ve learned to be very cautious.’

On Tuesday the state reached its first milestone of 80 per cent of residents having received their first jab.

Premier Daniel Andrews was able to slightly ease Melbourne’s gruelling lockdown including extending the travel radius from 10km to 15km as of 11.59pm on Tuesday.

Residents are also now able to take part in ‘contactless’ recreational activity such as golf, tennis or fishing.

Personal trainers can train five fully vaccinated people at a time while remaining restrictions on playgrounds will also be lifted.

For those in regional parts of the state, up to 30 people can dine outdoors at restaurants and cafes.      

Meanwhile, data has shown Mr Andrews’ popularity has declined with only 44 per cent of Victorians positively rating the government’s response to the pandemic, according to the Essential Report.

That figure had been at 50 per cent earlier this month but has since dropped while over in Western Australia, 82 per cent of residents were happy with their premier’s actions.

The Victorian premier is now hoping the cases in his state start to drop once half the population are double vaccinated, which was seen when NSW hit that milestone