1377 new cases in Victoria; Melbourne now world's most locked-down city

Melbourne is still under lockdown with central city streets empty of people. Photo: Getty Images
Melbourne is now the world's most locked-down city. Photo: Getty Images
Victoria has recorded 1377 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 and four deaths as Melbourne claimed the unenviable title of the world's most locked-down city.

The health department confirmed the 1377 case figure on Monday, the fifth day in a row of four figure infections.

It has pushed the number of active infections in the state to 12,711.

More than 67,789 Victorians were tested for the virus in the 24 hours to Monday morning, while 30,985 vaccinations were administered at state-run sites.

It comes as Melbourne has become the most locked-down city, chalking up 246 days living under stay-at-home orders across six lockdowns to surpass the record set by the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires.

With the end of lockdown weeks away, Premier Daniel Andrews called on Melburnians to make a final push.

"We are going to get past this. We are going to end this lockdown and open up, and all that we will enjoy then will be a result of all that we have given," he told reporters on Sunday.

Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, a long-time supporter of the elimination strategy, said the lockdowns saved lives but Victoria had been unfortunate to have so many.

"If we let it rip last year, we would have had severe mortality and morbidity. It's just that we haven't had the same luck as other places," he told ABC TV on Monday.

Victoria is forecast to hit 70 percent vaccination coverage of its 16-plus population on or around October 26, triggering the end of lockdown under the state's roadmap before restrictions ease further at 80 percent.

Mr Andrews is hopeful the reduction of the second dose Pfizer interval in state-run clinics from six to three weeks from Monday will speed up meeting those targets.

Meanwhile, regional Victorian students in prep, year 1 and year 12 are returning to classrooms on Monday.

VCE unit 3/4 students will be back at schools across the state on Tuesday to sit the repeatedly rescheduled General Achievement Test.

Three students tested positive as part of a targeted testing of Covid-hit areas for the GAT on Saturday and will be granted exemptions.