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More than 250 people are facing charges after anti-lockdown rallies across the country.

In Melbourne, 235 people were arrested on Saturday at a protest that saw ten police injured in violent confrontations.

Across NSW 32 people were arrested, with about 250 protesters rallying in Byron Bay and a handful in Sydney's west.

In Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, thousands gathered to rally against restrictions despite Queensland not being in lockdown, while there was also a protest in Perth, a city subject to few limitations.

Victoria Police Commander Mark Galliott said bottles and stones were thrown at officers in Melbourne, and police had to use capsicum spray and batons.

"We saw angry young men that were just there intent on violence against police," he told reporters late on Saturday.

"It's incredibly frustrating, but more than that, it really saddens me to see people acting in that way towards police."

Also on Saturday, Australia's first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the country.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Moderna doses meant more GP clinics would be able to administer the vaccine.

"These are very important because they simply provide not only more vaccines, but more points of access for Australians everywhere," he said.

The most recent federal figures showed Australia has reached 70.5 per cent of over 16s with a first vaccine dose, while more than 45 per cent are fully immunised.

More than 1800 new virus cases were reported from outbreaks in NSW and Victoria on Saturday.

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Australia's two most populous states have their focus on reopening their economies even as infection rates remain relatively high and death tolls continue to climb.

But the nation's doctors are calling for caution when easing restrictions on reaching vaccination rates of 70 and 80 per cent under the national recovery plan.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid says the updated Doherty modelling released late on Friday underlines the need to be cautious when easing restrictions.

"When implementing the national plan we must be realistic, careful and test each change and the impact of measures before moving to the next phase, given that there are thousands of COVID-19 cases in the community," he said.

Dr Khorshid said the Doherty modelling does not show the impact on hospitals, which are already under extraordinary pressure.

"The health system needs to be much better prepared to deal with the growing burden of COVID-19, as well as be able to deliver non-COVID-19 related care," he said.

The Doherty Institute, who's modelling the nation's recovery plan is based on, was asked to undertake additional "sensitivity analyses" of the scenarios presented in its initial report.

It was asked to test the robustness of the recommendation to transition to Phases B and C of the national plan at 70 and 80 per cent vaccination coverage if COVID-19 infection was already established in the community.

"These findings confirm our earlier strategic advice that even high levels of vaccination will not be sufficient to stop COVID-19 in its tracks," the institute said in a statement.

The institute's Professor Jodie McVernon and University of Melbourne's Professor James McCaw will hold a press conference to further discuss its findings on Monday.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews released his long -awaited road map out of lockdown as the state recorded 507 new cases and another death, bringing its toll from the latest outbreak to 11.

The road map includes scrapping the nightly curfew once 70 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated.

But substantial changes will not be made until 80 per cent of people are immunised, which is forecast to occur around November 5.

"We are opening up, no doubt about that, and there will be no turning back," Mr Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

"If you care about nurses, doctors, ambos, cooks and cleaners, everyone in our health system, if they're important to you, then get vaccinated."

NSW reported 1083 new virus cases on Sunday and 13 deaths, bringing its toll to 231 since its Delta variant outbreak began on June 16.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced recreation rules will be relaxed for 12 LGAs from Monday and they'll enjoy extra freedoms, a week after they were granted to the rest of the state.

These include fully vaccinated adults being able to exercise outdoors with no time limits and gather in groups of five for outdoor recreation within five kilometres from home.

But the premier warned the state is still in a "precarious" situation and case numbers will increase when it reopens at the 70 per cent double vaccination target.

"We are anticipating our worst weeks in ICU and hospitals will be in October," she said.

The ACT, the third jurisdiction currently under lockdown, reported 17 new virus cases.

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NSW has reported 1083 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths as the government grants communities in the council areas of concern the same recreation freedoms as the rest of Sydney.

Fully vaccinated adults in the 12 local government areas that have been subjected to stricter restrictions will from Monday be able to exercise outdoor with no limits and gather in groups of five for outdoor recreation.

That limit does not include kids under the age of 12.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked people in the 12 LGAs who she said had been "doing it tougher" than the rest of the state.

"They have led the way in our vaccination rates, they have shown us the way, and what it means to be resilient and strong," the premier said.

Ms Berejiklian also said public pools could reopen in NSW from next Monday (September 27).

Of the people who died with COVID-19, one person was in their 40s, two in their 50s, two in their 60s, five in their 70s, and three were in their 80s.

There are currently 1238 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 234 people in intensive care, 123 of whom require ventilation.

Some 1700 officers were deployed across the state on Saturday to quash planned demonstrations against the ongoing stay-at-home orders.

They arrested 32 people across the state, in Sydney and Byron Bay. Police also issued 265 infringement notices.

"I'm pleased to see that common sense has prevailed and the vast majority of people have complied with the existing public health orders," Police Minister David Elliott said.

Meanwhile, the union representing prison officers says mandating COVID-19 inoculations for jail staff is "a job half done" and inmates need the jab too.

"To keep NSW jails safe from COVID-19 everyone in the justice system needs to be vaccinated, no excuses," the Public Service Association's Stewart Little said.

There are about 30,000 people in the NSW justice system and it is difficult to separate them from other inmates and staff at institutions, he added.

All prison officers are required to be double vaccinated by January in an edict finalised last week.

Meanwhile, the hair and beauty industry has called on the government to reconsider an incoming five-client cap when hair and beauty venues reopen at the state's 70 per cent double vaccination target.

Australian Hair Council Chief Executive Sandy Chong said the measure would not impact transmission within hair and beauty venues in any "meaningful" way.

"These restrictions are also completely inconsistent with other industries such as fitness and hospitality, which bear similar, if not greater risks of transmission, and will be able to operate without such a restrictive cap," she said.

© AAP 2021