People burning themselves while cooking are taking up intensive care beds that may be needed for gravely ill coronavirus patients.
Specialists at The Alfred hospital have reported a surge in severe burns since Victoria's stage-3 lockdown came into effect last month.
Many of the injuries being treated at the hospital's burns unit have been caused by hot oil with others resulting from people cooking while intoxicated.
Associate Professor Heather Cleland, director of the Victorian Adult Burns Service at The Alfred, said the hospital had noted a significant increase in patients with severe cooking-related burns.
