Victoria has recorded 847 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and one further death, amid warnings to stay home this grand final day.
It is the 22nd death linked to the state’s current Delta outbreak.
It is the highest single-day tally of the outbreak to date.
The results come from 57,342 tests, while 37,000 vaccinations were administered across the state in the last 24 hours.
There are currently 7611 active cases.
Yesterday, there were 733 new local cases recorded – the highest daily increase this year.
Authorities have warned that they expect numbers to continue to soar as the outbreak worsens, with the peak expected within the coming weeks.
Case numbers are projected to keep rising until a peak late next month, with admissions to hospital also expected to keep rising.
It brings the total number of active infections in the state to 7,611, the vast majority of those acquired in the community.
Parts of Victoria remain in lockdown and a strict, daily 9:00pm–5:00am curfew is still in place in Melbourne, so it will come into effect midway through tonight’s AFL grand final.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton yesterday urged people to stay home and follow the rules to avoid putting “you, your friends and your households at risk”.
Meanwhile The Age reports that vaccine fears have plunged to a record low in a strong sign of support for the national plan to ease lockdowns, with only 9 per cent of Australians objecting to the jabs compared to 29 per cent in the early phase of the rollout.
The findings suggest the country could achieve a 90 per cent vaccine target across the adult population as the federal government promises more supplies of Pfizer and Moderna doses over the next three months.
Another day of Melbourne protests
Protesters are vowing to take to the streets of Melbourne again for a sixth day as authorities attempt to thwart their plans to descend upon the CBD.
Police had one of their busiest days yesterday, making 200 arrests and issuing more than $1 million in fines.
The protests are expected to kick off around midday.
NSW records 1007 new local cases, 11 more deaths
New South Wales has recorded 1,007 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm last night.
Of the 11 people who died from the virus yesterday none were fully vaccinated.
Two people had received one dose and NSW Health says at least eight had underlying medical conditions.
One of the deaths reported today was a man in his 70s from the Blue Mountains who became infected at the Uniting Springwood Residential Aged Care Facility where he was a resident. He was not vaccinated.