Three Victorian hospitals are warning people not to visit emergency departments unless “absolutely necessary” due to extreme pressure from rising COVID-19 admissions and demand for testing. Health authorities say the state will see a rapid increase in coronavirus hospitalisations in the coming days. The number of people in hospital with the virus has risen by 123 in the past week, from 368 on December 27 to 491 on Monday. Victoria’s seven-day hospital average jumped by 20 cases within a day, from 424 in Sunday’s figures to 444. Western Health, which manages Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals in Melbourne’s west, says all three are “currently under extreme pressure”. “Please DO NOT attend the ED unless absolutely necessary,” the health service tweeted on Monday. “Those with mild COVID symptoms seeking PCR or rapid tests should NOT ATTEND. Thank you for your cooperation.” Western Health executive director Suellen Bruce said the warning came …