Nine new COVID-19 cases identified in south-west overnight

There are now 22 active cases across three municipalities.

Two new cases in the Moyne Shire are linked to a known positive case, five new cases in the Corangamite Shire are all linked, and two new cases in Warrnambool are currently under investigation by the public health unit.

That brings active case numbers to:

It comes after a Mercy Place Warrnambool staff member tested positive to COVID-19.

It is not known if any of the positive cases today are linked to the aged care home.

The nursing home updated the residents and families late Wednesday December 8 after mass testing was conducted at the facility.

General manager Toni Cuthbertson said "most" of the 210 results were negative, with a number being further investigated.

"All residents continue to be well and are not showing any symptoms of COVID-19," Ms Cuthbertsin said.

"We are continuing to follow up some test results from the first round of testing, however, most results have returned negative."

Consenting residents received a COVID-19 booster vaccination on Wednesday.

Staff will continue to wear full protective gear including gloves, gowns, N95 masks and eye protection.

The home remains closed to visitors.

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No new exposure sites have been listed by South West Healthcare.

"The Department of Health is no longer releasing exposure sites to the community unless the site is identified to be of significant risk to the community," SWH said in a statement.

"If you have come into contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health will notify you directly of your possible contact and give you direction on how to proceed.

"South West Healthcare encourages the community to remain vigilant by checking in via QR codes and getting tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms."

The COVID testing clinic at Merri Street is open 8am - 4pm on 5563 1666 and selecting option 5.

"Thank you for doing the right thing to keep our community safe and for your ongoing support of SWH."

Victoria recorded 1232 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths overnight.

There are 315 patients in hospital, 96 of whom are in intensive care and 27 requiring ventilation.

The seven-day hospitalisation average sits at 302.

It comes as genomic sequencing is underway on a further two likely Omicron cases, after Victoria confirmed its first case of the new variant among a returned international traveller in hotel quarantine on Wednesday.

The two cases were detected in the cities of Casey and Brimbank and returned results with S gene dropout, a signature of the Omicron variant.

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