Victoria was notified of 120 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All were locally acquired cases.
There are 900 active cases in Victoria - 895 locally acquired and five overseas acquired cases.
There are 58 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. 21 cases are in intensive care and 14 cases are on ventilators.
The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 22,187. Four historic cases were re-classified.
Sadly, the Department was notified yesterday of the death of two Victorians diagnosed with COVID-19 - a female aged in her 60s from Hume and a female aged in her 40s from Darebin. They passed away at home.
We send our deepest condolences to the families and communities involved - and we will be working with them to give them the support and guidance they need over the coming days.
We know COVID-19 symptoms can rapidly worsen. If this is happening to you (or someone you know or live with) and help is required, please seek medical care. If it's an emergency, call Triple Zero.
More information will be available as these matters are investigated.
Update: NSW / Victoria border changes
With over one thousand cases per day, and a trajectory of exponential growth, the risk that NSW poses to Victoria is bigger than ever.
That's why we are reducing the number of communities in the border bubble from 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September.
Six Victorian local government areas including Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, City of Benalla, Buloke, Loddon, Yarriambiack and two NSW LGAs - Broken Hill and Edward River - will no longer be included as a cross border community. This means residents in those LGAs will no longer be eligible for a Cross-border Extreme Risk Zone permit to enter Victoria or return from NSW.
Update: Restrictions
Due to the ongoing level of community transmission and the continued number of unlinked cases popping up across the state, Victoria's Chief Health Officer has declared that almost all of the current lockdown restrictions will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine. This is estimated to be around 23 September.
Until then there will still be only five reasons to leave home: shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and study, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated. Other restrictions - including mask wearing - will stay the same.
From 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September, playgrounds will re-open - with strict rules to keep everyone safe. Playgrounds will be for children under 12 with only one parent or carer, and adults should not remove their masks to eat or drink. Playgrounds will also have QR codes for checking in. In-home care - like babysitters - will also be expanded to school aged children but only if both parents are authorised workers.
Further information about the easing of restrictions when 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one vaccine dose is available at Slowing the spread and keeping our state safe.
Update: Priority vaccination access for Year 12 students
A priority vaccination program from Tuesday 7 September until Friday 17 September will be put in place to ensure our senior students sitting year 12 exams have certainty and are ready for exams.
As part of this program, year 12 students will be given priority booking access at our state-run clinics, as will their teachers and examiners. Students and teachers will need to book an appointment, as walk ups are not available as part of this blitz.
Students and teachers will be able to book one of these priority appointments from Monday 6 September. The Department of Health and the Department of Education will work directly with schools, and students and parents will receive the advice on how to arrange a booking through their schools.
Vaccines
Yesterday, 33,455 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria's state-commissioned services yesterday.
The total number of doses administered through these services is 2,449,255.
Everyone between ages 16 to 59 is now eligible to receive Pfizer vaccinations through both state-run centresand participating GPs.
Getting vaccinated has never been more important - it is our way out of this pandemic. Nearly three weeks ago we announced a goal to administer 1 million doses in five weeks, and so far, we've delivered just under 500,000 doses.
AstraZeneca is a safe and effective vaccine and there are 72,745 Astra Zeneca appointments available across Victoria over the next three weeks.
If you're yet to be vaccinated, please book your appointment today - either in the state system, or in your general practice or local pharmacy. If have any questions or concerns you can talk to a GP, pharmacist or to a senior and experienced immuniser at our state-run sites.
All Victorians are encouraged where possible to book their vaccination appointment by visiting Making Victoria safe, together
