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Victoria has added 1965 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections to its caseload along with five deaths.

The state now has more than 17,000 active coronavirus cases.

The escalation of the Delta outbreak comes with residents in regional Mildura waking to a new seven-day lockdown.

People in two other towns will start their weekend in relative freedom after restrictions were eased overnight.

Health authorities say 41, 177 vaccine doses were administered across the state in the 24 hours to Friday evening. Almost 3.9 million jabs have been administered in total.

Victoria also conducted more than 73,000 virus tests on Friday.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton declared on Friday evening that Mildura Rural City Council residents would be plunged into lockdown from midnight, giving locals just over six hours' notice.

There are now 12 active COVID-19 cases in the area, with health officials hoping the lockdown will prevent the outbreak from escalating.

Mildura will be under the same stay-at-home rules as Melbourne, excluding the curfew, with a 15-kilometre travel limit and a ban on visitors at people's homes.

Meanwhile, Greater Shepparton and Moorabool Shire exited their lockdowns at 11.59pm on Friday, with rules now matching the rest of regional Victoria including masks indoors and out, and a ban on home gatherings.

Professor Sutton paid tribute to locals for helping to drive case numbers down.

"I really thank everyone in the community for staying safe, staying apart, and doing the right thing," he said.

A small tweak to the mask rules also came into effect at midnight on Friday, with adults now allowed to remove their face mask to consume alcohol while outdoors.

Prof Sutton believes Victoria's coronavirus outbreak is nearing its peak.

Another record-breaking day of case numbers - 1838 infections were reported on Friday and five deaths.

The chief health officer said rising vaccination levels were ensuring the rate of people being hospitalised or placed into intensive care was not growing as quickly as the daily case numbers.

© AAP 2021

An airline cabin crew member has tested positive for coronavirus after travelling on flights across three states while potentially infectious, Victorian health authorities say.

Meanwhile, 16,000 secondary close contacts will be released from quarantine over the weekend, as health teams try to manage escalating COVID-19 case numbers.

Victoria reported another record-breaking daily case number with 1965 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to Saturday.

Another five deaths were reported, including two from Moreland, a woman in her 90s and man in his 70s, a Banyule man in his 60s, a Hobsons Bay man in his 60s, and a Hume man in his 50s.

There are 578 Victorians currently in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 117 are in ICU and 83 on ventilators.

Deputy Health Secretary Kate Matson told reporters on Saturday a Virgin Australia cabin crew member had tested positive, after routine surveillance testing by the airline.

"They worked whilst infectious from the 4th to 6th October, and there were six flights in or out of Melbourne that were affected," she said.

"Fellow crew members on those flights have been deemed close contacts. Most do live in Melbourne and will be contacted by the department."

The six flights included return trips from Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle, with passengers on affected flights to be contacted by their state health bodies.

Ms Matson also announced secondary close contacts will no longer be "actively managed" by public health teams, in response to rising case numbers across the state.

She said this was happening in Melbourne, and will now occur state-wide.

It means about 16,000 secondary close contacts across the state will receive a text message over the weekend, releasing them from quarantine.

"This just recognises the changing risk and the changing environment that we're in," she said.

"We are no longer chasing COVID-zero in Victoria, and we have 17,000 active cases in Victoria."

While secondary close contacts will no longer have to isolate, primary close contacts will be asked to isolate away from the rest of their household.

Secondary contacts are still encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 if they show any symptoms.

A virus outbreak in Mildura has grown to 37 active infections, after the regional border town was plunged into a seven-day lockdown on Friday night.

Ms Matson said the next seven days "will be crucial" for the region.

"We are particularly concerned about Mildura because of this rate in case growth and we believe there may be additional cases out there yet that we have not found," she said.

Mildura will be under the same stay-at-home rules as Melbourne, excluding the curfew, with a 15-kilometre travel limit and a ban on visitors at people's homes.

Health authorities say 41,177 vaccine doses were administered across the state on Friday, as well as 73,000 virus tests.

© AAP 2021

Three people have been arrested and dozens fined after small numbers of protesters held anti-vaccination rallies in Melbourne.

Victoria on Saturday reported another record daily case number, with 1965 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections.

Another five deaths were reported, including two from Moreland, a woman in her 90s and man in his 70s; a Banyule man in his 60s; a Hobsons Bay man in his 60s; and a Hume man in his 50s.

There are 578 Victorians in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 117 are in ICU and 83 on ventilators.

Protests were organised by anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination groups in parts of the Victorian capital city on Saturday, including at Campbellfield Plaza and in Glen Waverley.

Police said three people were arrested "for various offences" and 27 fines were issued for people breaching public health directions.

"Victoria Police will continue to have a highly visible presence to maintain public safety, and to ensure any protest activity that breaches the CHO directions does not impact on the broader community's right to go about their daily lives," a police spokeswoman said.

Earlier on Saturday, Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said thousands of secondary close contacts would be released from quarantine at the weekend as health teams struggle to manage escalating virus infections.

She said secondary contacts would no longer be "actively managed" by public health teams, and 16,000 people across the state would receive a text message releasing them from quarantine.

"This just recognises the changing risk and the changing environment that we're in," she told reporters.

"We are no longer chasing COVID-zero in Victoria, and we have 17,000 active cases in Victoria."

While secondary close contacts will no longer have to isolate, primary close contacts will be asked to isolate away from the rest of their household.

Secondary contacts are still encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 if they show any symptoms.

Meanwhile, a Virgin Australia flight attendant has tested positive after routine surveillance testing by the airline.

The crew member worked on six flights while infectious from October 4 to 6, including return trips from Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle.

Passengers on affected flights to be contacted by their state health bodies.

"Fellow crew members on those flights have been deemed close contacts. Most do live in Melbourne and will be contacted by the department," Ms Matson said.

A virus outbreak in Mildura has grown to 37 active infections after the regional border town was plunged into a seven-day lockdown on Friday night.

Ms Matson said the next seven days would be crucial for the region.

Mildura will be under the same stay-at-home rules as Melbourne, excluding the curfew, with a 15-kilometre travel limit and a ban on visitors at people's homes.

Health authorities say 41,177 vaccine doses were administered across the state on Friday, as well as 73,000 virus tests.

Eighty-five per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have now received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 57 per cent fully vaccinated.

© AAP 2021