Victoria's COVID-19 death toll has risen to 92 after another nine people died overnight.
The deaths include two people in their 90s, five in their 80s, one in their 70s and one in their 60s.
Seven of the fatalities were from the private sector aged care, where there are more than 800 linked cases.
"We send our love and support and condolences and best wishes to each of those families," Premier Daniel Andrews said.
It comes as Victoria recorded a dip in COVID-19 cases, with 295 new cases overnight, taking the state's total to 9304.
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There are 307 Victorians in hospital, including 41 seriously unwell in intensive care.
'Expect a knock on the door'
Any Victorian who tests positive can expect a knock on the door, Mr Andrews said, confirming his government would be cracking down on anyone breaking quarantine.
He said dozens of Victorians were not home when doorknocked by public health authorities and the Australian Defence Force.
The Department of Health and Human Services and defence personnel visited 500 homes after people could not be contacted by health authorities.
There were 29 cases where people did not answer upon being doorknocked.
"They've been referred to Victoria Police," Mr Andrews said.
"If you are supposed to be at home isolating, you are supposed to be at home doing just that."
Victoria's team of door knockers will increase from 58 to 90 today.
Mr Andrews stressed the teams were not just there to catch people, but to educate about quarantine responsibility and to ensure people's well-being.
Today's case number is a significant drop from the 532 infections on Monday. It is the first time daily cases have dropped below 300 for nine days.
Cases in regional Victoria low but troubling
Victoria has 804 active COVID-19 cases in aged care across the state, including 502 active infections in the health industry.
The 195 active cases in regional Victoria was "still low", Mr Andrews said, but remained concerning.
"We are confident that we have those in hand, but it is a concern to us to see any cases in regional Victoria," he said.
"That's why I'm so grateful to regional Victorians who continue to do the right thing to keep those numbers low."
As he has done all week, Mr Andrews implored Victorians to not go to work if they feel sick.
Aged care 'blame game'
The premier rejected suggestions there is a 'blame game' being played between the state and federal governments over Victoria's aged care outbreaks.
"I have a very important productive, rational and respectful relationship with the PM, there is a mutual regard where it is serving the interests of every single Victorian," Mr Andrews said.
"Any talk about fights and arguments is wrong.
"The only fight I am engaged in is a fight against this deadly virus and that will not change."
Staff from several Melbourne hospitals, including Eastern Health and Epworth Private, are assisting with Victoria's aged care outbreaks.
Eastern Health had closed 43 beds to free up staff to support the facilities in crisis.
Eighty residents at St Basil's aged care have been transferred out of the facility into hospitals, as well as 34 residents from Epping Gardens aged care, 30 from Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes and 21 from Outlook Gardens Aged Care in Dandenong North.
Mr Andrews said residents would be moved to a public hospital if deemed an "emergency transfer".
Other residents would be transferred to private sector.
"We will continue to see a massive effort," Mr Andrews said.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed Victoria has 800 operational ICU beds, with up to 1200 beds on standby if the state needed to "flex up".
"We have got ventilators in our centralised warehouse," Ms Mikakos said.
"So we have the medical equipment necessary to flex up and create more surge capacity if that is needed."
Past the peak?
While Victoria's drop in COVID-19 cases are a welcome relief today, Mr Andrews said he was not getting his hopes up just yet.
Mr Andrews said infection numbers were still "way too high" to consider easing restrictions.
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton mirrored the premier's view, saying he would "not make a declaration that we have passed the peak".
Parts of Victoria are now at the halfway point of a scheduled six-week stage three lockdown.
More to come
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