Melbourne will become the most locked down city in the world tomorrow night, beating Buenos Aires in Argentina at 245 days in lockdown as the state of Victoria announced 1220 new cases of Covid-19 and three deaths.
Women walk past reminder signs for vaccinations in Melbourne, which has spent eight months in lockdown since the pandemic began. Photo: AFP
The new cases were detected from 71,275 test results, marking a second straight record day of testing.
They bring the state's total number of active cases to 11,785.
Yesterday the state announced 1488 new cases - its highest total since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
A total of 36,248 vaccine doses were administered at state-run sites yesterday.
More than 81 percent of Victorians have now had a single dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while over 51 percent have been fully vaccinated.
A man receives his vaccination in the Melbourne suburb of Melton. (file pic) Photo: AFP
Cases drop dramatically in three weeks in NSW
New South Wales has recorded a "dramatic drop" in community cases, with 667 infections and 10 deaths as the state announced an easing of self-quarantine rules for the fully vaccinated.
The cases recorded in the latest reporting period were the lowest since 19 August.
"It's quite a dramatic drop," Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
"All the hard work that we have done ... to have gone from 1599 cases just three weeks ago to 667 cases today has taken a lot of hard work.
"Please don't ruin that, please don't let this side down. This is a game that we all must win."
Self-quarantine rules for people who have been in close contact with a positive case are being relaxed from 11 October.
Any close contact who is vaccinated will only be required to get tested and self-isolate for seven days, instead of 14.
If a person tests positive they will have to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
Hazzard said 66.5 percent of the state's population aged 16 and over was now fully vaccinated, and 88.1 percent had received their first dose.
He expects the state to hit its 70 percent milestone in the middle of the week.
No cases clears way for NRL grand final in Queensland
Queensland has recorded no new community cases of Covid-19, clearing the way for the NRL grand final to go ahead at Lang Park in Brisbane tonight.
Just one positive case was detected in hotel quarantine from 18,427 tests.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was excellent news.
"Queenslanders have answered our call to come out and get tested," Palaszczuk said.
"Thank you to Queenslanders for the amazing work that you're doing."
So far, 66.96 percent of eligible Queenslanders have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 47.98 percent are fully vaccinated.
"We're not out of the woods yet, so that means all Queenslanders, if you have any symptoms whatsoever, please come out and get tested," Palaszczuk said.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young expressed surprise that the multiple outbreaks across the state's south-east had not spread further.
"It's astounding that we haven't seen community seeding, and that's due to the work done by Queenslanders every single day," Dr Young said.
"You clearly know how to respond in a pandemic."
League fans told to obey rules
The premier confirmed she would be attending tonight's NRL grand final at Lang Park, as long as no urgent issues arose later in the day.
She warned rugby league fans to abide by the rules at the stadium.
"I'm making it very clear that these are the conditions that have been put on by Dr Young and that's what I expect everyone to do," Palaszczuk said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expects to attend the NRL grand final tonight after her state recorded no new community cases. Photo: AFP
Dr Young said Queensland had stopped each outbreak in its tracks early.
"I think one of the reasons we've been successful in containing nearly 50 incursions of the virus in the last few months is because we're finding pretty much the first case in each outbreak," she said.
But Dr Young reminded people to remain vigilant with their Covid check-ins, follow restrictions and use the long weekend to get vaccinated.
"The thing that will get us out of having to do all of that is to get vaccinated," she said.
- ABC