Victoria has reported 403 new coronavirus cases and five deaths, the state's highest number of pandemic fatalities in a 24 hour period.
There are 40 Victorians seriously sick in intensive care, with 201 in hospital, including four children.
The total of 403 new cases is the state's third-worst day of infections since the pandemic began, down from yesterday's record of 484.
A man aged in his 50s was among the dead, which now number 49 in Victoria.
Three new deaths were linked to aged care facilities, including a woman in her 70s, a man aged in his 80s and another man in his 90s.
The fifth death was a man aged in his 70s.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there was a total of 113 coronavirus cases in regional Victoria, up 13 from yesterday.
He said regional case numbers were low and "we need to keep them that way".
Mr Andrews warned "stability is not enough" for the state to now defeat its coronavirus crisis.
"When you get swamped every day with additional cases, and every case represents the better part of four or five contacts, that's always going to push you," he said.
He said "no health system would cope" if the surge suddenly spiked to thousands of new cases each day.
Among Victoria's 403 new cases, 69 infections are connected to known outbreaks and 334 were under investigation.
There are 3630 active coronavirus cases in Victoria.
The premier foreshadowed tougher punishments for those who breach lockdown restrictions, saying "we've got some unique and innovative ways to deal with that" which he would detail tomorrow.
Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos urged people to reflect on the four children in hospital and the big case numbers among the 20-30 age group.
"This is not an older person's disease," she said.
"A quarter of infections we are seeing are young people in their 20s."
She said Victorians in their 60s represented just six per cent of total cases.
Ms Mikakos also confirmed tougher visitor restrictions at aged care homes and hospitals.
Now only one visitor is allowed to visit for one hour, once daily.
The exceptions were parents visiting with a child and some palliative care situations.
Premier Daniel Andrews warned the state's mandatory mask rule could be in place for many months.
He said the benefit of Victorians wearing masks would be seen in the coming weeks.
Mr Andrews admitted the health advice on face masks had "changed", when asked why Victorians had not been forced to wear masks in March, April or May.
"This is not the first wave, it's the second wave," he said.
"This is a proportionate and a smart thing to do now."
More to come.
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