Mr O’Brien, however, said Victoria needed more explicit strategic assistance from federal experts as soon as possible.

“I do think today’s numbers show that this is getting away from us here and we do need help," the Opposition leader said.

"We do need the help of experts from the federal government to assist us here, not just in terms of boots on the ground with contact tracing and testing, but we need strategic direction from the federal government.

“I think the Premier and Professor Brett Sutton have done their best, but these numbers indicate that their best is not getting this virus under control”.

The Opposition leader suggested Professor Brendan Murphy, the former federal Chief Medical Officer who became Australia’s top health bureaucrat as the secretary of the Department of Health earlier this month, should be sent to focus solely on Victoria.

“I think this is the day where the Premier does need to pick up the phone to the Prime Minister and say ‘please send your assistance, send your support’. Send Professor Murphy, send whoever it takes, because we must get through this,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is a fight we cannot afford to lose, and we need help to win it.”