Victoria has recorded 1,173 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and nine more people have died a day after protesters celebrated being "superspreaders".
The health department confirmed on Sunday the state is now managing 16,413 active cases.
There are 568 Victorians in hospital, of whom 96 are in intensive care including 63 on ventilators. The numbers are slightly down from Saturday.
About 83 per cent of people aged over 12 are fully vaccinated.
The latest figures come as organisers of protests against vaccine mandates and proposed pandemic laws have vowed to return to the streets of Melbourne every week until their demands are met.
A crowd of protesters marched through the CBD on Saturday, looking to "kill the bill" heading for the upper house that would give the Victorian government specific pandemic powers as an alternative to state of emergency declarations that need to be renewed every four weeks.
The Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 needs the support of three of the 11 crossbenchers to pass and give the premier the power to declare a pandemic and extend emergency conditions for three months at a time for as long as considered necessary.
A woman addressed protesters just after 2pm, saying the Andrews government's proposed bill is "unlawful" and "needs to be invalidated".
Shortly after, a man took to the stage and said "thank you my fellow superspreaders", which was met with applause.
"Tomorrow the hospitals will be full," he said.
The protesters dispersed after about four hours.
Protesters are seen during a rally against the proposed pandemic laws, in Melbourne, Saturday, November 6, 2021. Source: AAP
The final day of the Melbourne Cup racing carnival also went ahead on Saturday after deep cleaning was carried out in response to two positive cases in a contractor and a patron at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday unveiled a $44 million package to revitalise Melbourne's CBD.
From 15 November, diners will be able to reclaim 30 per cent of their food and beverage bills - up to $150 - between Monday and Thursday each week.
The package also includes $10.4 million to help businesses trade outdoors and at night, $15.7 million to boost the city's events calendar, $14 million to revitalise public areas and $3.6 million to provide an enhanced business concierge service.
NSW records one new death, 244 cases
Meanwhile, there has been 244 new local COVID-19 cases in New South Wales along with one further death.
Some 269 virus patients remain in hospitals around the state, 52 of them in intensive care.
Health officials say COVID-19 testers processed more than 70,000 results in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.
NSW has now vaccinated 89.7 per cent of people aged 16 and over, while 93.9 per cent have at least had one jab.
However, concerns remain over the number of new cases being detected in regional NSW.
Of the 244 new local cases, 77 were detected in the Hunter New England health district, 20 on the mid-north coast, 17 in Murrumbidgee and nine in western NSW.
Four cases were from the Central Coast, three were in southern NSW and two in the Blue Mountains, while another was found in a "correctional setting".
Virus fragments were also detected in samples collected from other regional areas where there are no recent known cases, including Bermagui, Moruya, Young, Gulargambone and Cobar.
Anyone in these areas with symptoms is urged to immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
ACT records 13 cases
The ACT avoided adding to the death toll - which now stands at 1,815 nationally - but recorded 13 new infections.
ACT Health is currently working with nine schools across the territory to actively manage COVID-19 cases.
It and the Education Directorate are working with schools to ensure that COVID-safe plans are in place to minimise transmission where a positive COVID-19 case may attend school while infectious.
"These school communities have been contacted, and all impacted students and staff are receiving support from ACT Health and the Education Directorate," ACT Health said in a statement.
