The Latest Breaking News from MaryAnne Thomas

Mandatory face masks on Victorian public transport are here to stay, but the state's work from home recommendation has been lifted.

A rash of major health announcements is sure to spread further before the state election – but the devil is in the detail

Regional Victorians eligible for vaccination are being forced to wait because country public health units have not yet received the shots.

The first 3,500 doses will be available to Victorians most at risk of contracting the virus, which has spread to more than 70 countries and infected about 26,000 people around the world.

New figures released by the Victorian government show the health system is under more pressure than ever before, but elective surgery wait times are beginning to stabilise.

The latest quarterly performance data confirms Victoria's health system is under unprecedented pressure from the flu season and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten will introduce a bill into state parliament this week that would remove the right of hospitals that receive any taxpayer funding to refuse to offer reproductive health services and voluntary assisted dying due to "corporate conscientious objection".

Candidates include Evan Mulholland from the Institute of Public Affairs and Moira Deeming, who called for abortion laws to be repealed

The Victorian Labor Party has expressed outrage over the opposition's endorsement of controversial councillor Moira Deeming.