Victoria records highest daily number of COVID cases as series of wastewater detections emerge in regions

There were 21 new COVID cases recorded in regional Victoria, including:

It comes as an unexpected wastewater detection was recorded in Hamilton with the period of interest being between September 18-20.

Health authorities warn the detections could be an undiscovered new case or the result of a person who has recovered from COVID but is shedding the virus.

Anyone who lives or works in the area is urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they present.

There were also detections in:

Today's numbers bring the total number of active coronavirus cases in Victoria to 6666 and come off the back of 62,408 test results received.

Sadly, four deaths were recorded overnight, including a man in his 80s from Moreland, a man in his 70s from Hume, a man in his 80s from Hume and a woman in her 90s from Hume.

There are 257 people currently in hospital with COVID-19, 60 of which are in intensive care and 41 are on a ventilator.

Of those cases in hospital, 81 per cent weren't vaccinated, 15 per cent were partially vaccinated and just 3 per cent of people were fully vaccinated.

It comes as COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said more than half of all COVID cases occurred in households.

"It is a challenging number for all of us," he said.

"It re-doubles our focus on doing everything we all can as a community to slow down the rate of community transmission over the days and weeks ahead. Over half of those cases, 55 per cent are occurring within known households."

About 40,957 vaccines were administered at state-run hubs, bringing the number of Victorians who have received their first dose to 75.2 per cent and double dose to 45.6 per cent.

More than 23 per cent of 12-15-year-olds have now also received their first dose since they became eligible last Monday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced Victorians stuck in NSW would be able to return home from September 30 if they are fully vaccinated.

They will need to quarantine for 14 days, though they can choose to do so at home.

"I know the number of people who have been trapped in New South Wales for a lengthy period, we have on numerous occasions sent our apologies to them and made it clear we understand just how challenging it is and we wish things were different," he said.

"Following advice from the Chief Health Officer I can announce today that new rules will come into place from 30 September so Victorians in an extreme risk zone, which is basically Sydney at this time, will be eligible to return home to Victoria if they are double vaccinated."

The vaccination mandate for construction workers in the regions will also come into effect at midnight tonight.

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