VICTORIA has recorded another big leap in COVID-19 cases as a post-Christmas surge.
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The state recorded 5919 new cases on Thursday, including one in the Northern Grampians LGA, according to new Department of health figures.
The latest daily numbers are up on the 5137 uncovered in the previous 24 hour period and are three times the sorts of numbers recorded on most days prior to Christmas.
Another seven people died on Thursday.
There are now 428 people in hospital, 54 in intensive care units and 21 on ventilators.
Health workers administered 66,774 tests and 3798 vaccine doses.
The Department of Health is expected to update that figure later today when it releases more data on local government areas.
The deluge of people asking for tests Australia-wide has prompted the National Cabinet to bring in new definitions for close contacts as health workers grapple with intensifying outbreaks over the holiday season and the Omicron variant.
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