Victoria could drop its COVID-19 vaccine mandates in restaurants, cafes, pubs and nightclubs after the latest wave of infections, expected to peak within weeks.
The state's hospitals are bracing for 500 or more patients a day with the virus at the height of the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant outbreak, according to Health Minister Martin Foley.
However, overall daily case numbers are harder to predict because of factors including the number of people getting tested and those who are asymptomatic.
With cases still rising through April, Victoria will not yet be following Queensland's lead from April 14 by dropping the vaccine mandate for hospitality venues.
But Premier Daniel Andrews indicated that could be revisited once infections start falling again.
"Let's get through these next few weeks, let's get past this peak in sub-variant Omicron cases and then we'll have options," Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday.
"One of those, hopefully, will be dealing with things like the vaccinated economy and all sorts of other rules."
Mr Andrews last year flagged Victoria's vaccinated economy would remain in place until at least this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix and possibly throughout the entirety of 2022.
The state's pandemic declaration, which allows the government to enforce ongoing restrictions as well as mask and vaccine mandates, is due to expire on April 12.
Health Minister Martin Foley expects it will be extended but is awaiting updated health advice.
Despite vaccine immunity waning over time, he said the double-dose vaccine mandate for hospitality patrons has helped mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and should stay for now.
"The vaccinated economy has made a significant contribution," he said.
"So keeping those (restrictions) in place until we see the downturn of the BA.2 sub-variant seems to be at the heart of the direction that AHPPC (Australian Health Protection Principal Committee) wants the states and territories to go."
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, who returned to state parliament on Tuesday after isolating as a close contact of his infected nine-year-old son, said it was time to move on from vaccine mandates in most settings.
"It's about time we moved on with our lives, sensibly," he said.
There are currently 331 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus, including 16 intensive care patients.
Three more people have died.
Meanwhile, traditional Anzac Day activities in Melbourne will revert to normal this year after two COVID-disrupted years.
RSL Victoria confirmed people planning to attend the dawn service, march or commemorative service in the city won't need to register and their vaccination status will not be checked.
© AAP 2022