VISITORS to the Mildura Base Hospital will be required to take a RAT test prior to entry as of next Monday, in response to the current surge of local COVID cases.

A hospital spokesperson said they do not expect the need for further restriction than the additional RAT test and that it will be continuing the two visitors in the morning and two visitors in the evening rule.

This new restriction has been introduced due to a "very, very limited" increase in transmission within the hospital that they want to "control".

"This is just being proactive," the hospital spokesperson said. "We are continuing to monitoring things on a regular basis and we'll react as needed but at this stage that's the only change we're making."

The hospital also asks that people not eat or drink anything 30 minutes before coming to the hospital as this can impact the RAT test.

COVID cases in the Mildura Rural City Council area continue to grow, with a reported 145 new cases on Wednesday and 139 cases on Thursday. Mildura has a current case rate of 1515 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than most surrounding LGA's.

There 37 COVID deaths reported in Victoria over the last 24 hours and 26 people in the ICU.