A SURGE in COVID-19 infections has forced Mildura Base Public Hospital to reinstate some visitor restrictions.

A hospital spokesperson said there had been a sharp increase in patients testing positive to the virus this week and that more staff were also being furloughed as a result of being infected themselves.

On Tuesday, there were 60 staff unable to work and more were expected to be affected after another 28 were swabbed that day.

As of Wednesday morning, reinstated restrictions will mean that in wards 2, 3, 4 and 6, patients will be restricted to two

visitors per day.

In maternity, only partners and siblings will be able to visit between 8am-8pm.

The spokesperson said that for more detailed information, people were encouraged to visit the hospital's website.

The hospital reverted to normal visitor rules in late April, after two years of heavy restrictions.

COVID cases locally and around Australia have risen alarmingly in recent weeks. In the Mildura local government area, another 144 new cases were recorded on Tuesday, for a total active-case number of 621.