Victorians forced to report positive RAT results to health department and isolate for seven days

Probable cases must immediately isolate for seven days and notify their contacts.

It will be mandatory to report the result by calling the department or filling in an online form expected to go live on Friday.

Cowie said those people were being discouraged from confirming the result with a PCR test unless they had no symptoms and were not a contact of a positive case.

The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, said people who returned a positive RAT would receive the same clinical and financial support as those with positive PCR results.

Probable cases will be reported alongside the daily figures. Restrictions are also being reintroduced in an effort to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.

Density limits of one person per 2 sq metres will be reintroduced for indoor hospitality and entertainment venues from Friday. Cinemas and theatres, where people are seated and masked, will be exempt.

By 9am on Thursday there were 35 state-run PCR testing sites closed because they were over capacity.