Victoria has recorded 1166 new Covid-19 cases and five deaths as the state enters its first weekend with new relaxed restrictions.
People are out again in Melbourne's CBD as pandemic restrictions continue to be eased. Photo: AFP
There are 312 people in hospital with Covid-19, with 55 in intensive care and 24 on a ventilator.
The health department said a further 59 people are in intensive care but their infections are no longer considered active.
Eighty-nine percent of Victorians aged over 12 are now fully vaccinated, with 6920 vaccine doses administered at state-run clinics yesterday.
Meanwhile, New South Wales has recorded 182 new cases. There are 191 people in hospital with 28 in intensive care.
Quarantine scrapped for vaccinated students, athletes
The Victorian government confirmed international students arriving in Melbourne under the new Student Arrivals Plan would not have to quarantine if fully vaccinated.
In order to enter Victoria without quarantine, international arrivals must comply with the government's testing requirements, including testing negative to Covid-19 within 72 hours of their departure.
While vaccination is not mandatory for international arrivals, proof of vaccination is required to attend most university campuses in the state.
The first international students are scheduled to arrive in December, with the rest expected to return in early 2022.
Photo: AFP
Vaccinations mandatory to attend Australian Open
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today announced tennis players competing at the Australian Open next year will also not have to undergo hotel quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.
All participants including players, officials and family will have to be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine.
"Victorians can't wait to get back to Melbourne Park for the Open, and it will be a milestone in the return of a major events calendar that supports thousands of jobs and promotes our name internationally," Pakula said.
Victoria rolled back restrictions on major events after nearing its 90 percent double vaccination target.
Concerns Covid-19 spreading across NT
Northern Territory health authorities are concerned that Covid-19 may be silently spreading across the state, with close contacts of positive cases found to have travelled to Central Australia.
Yesterday the government announced two more positive cases in the Northern Territory.
A rapid assessment team has been sent to the Aboriginal community of Binjari after positive wastewater results were returned.
About 200 residents there have been tested, but three close contacts of current cases have been located in Yuendumu, and one in Tennant Creek.
Genomic sequencing has linked this outbreak to an earlier cluster, which had been sparked by a 22-year-old woman who lied on her border entry form.
- ABC