Victoria has recorded its most Covid cases since mid-August last year, hours before regional Victoria is released from lockdown.
The state found 324 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday including a 2021 record 217 mystery cases not yet linked to the rets of the outbreak.
They were diagnosed from 54,242 tests, the most in a day this year, and 37,604 vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday.
Victoria has not recorded more than 300 cases since August 13, 2020, and Thursday's number is also the highest since that date.
The lockdown in regional Victoria will end as of midnight on Thursday while Melburnians remain under tough restrictions (pictured in Melbourne)
Despite the escalating outbreak, restaurants, clothing stores and schools will all reopen tonight as the lockdown in regional Victoria finally comes to an end.
From 11.59pm on Thursday regional Victorians will be able to leave their homes for any reason, but still can't visit each other's houses.
Limits on travel will be removed with the new rules applying to the entire state except for Shepparton and Melbourne, which are still recording many cases.
Businesses including hospitality, retail, hairdressers and entertainment facilities will all be able to welcome back customers with patron density caps.
Ten customers will be allowed to dine indoors and 20 outdoors at hospitality venues.
Indoor seated entertainment venues can open for 20 people and outdoor seated venues can host 25 per cent capacity or 300 patrons, whichever is fewer.
Theme parks can reopen for 25 per cent capacity but nightclubs will stay shut.
Weddings will be back on for 10 people and funerals will be permitted to have 20 mourners excluding those who are needed for the services.
Schools will return to face-to-face learning for students in Year 12 and kindergarten to Year 2. At home learning will remain for all other students.
Masks will however still be required for all Victorians both indoors and outdoors and those in regional areas of the state must carry their ID with them at all times.
