Premier Dan Andrews has announced how many punters will be allowed to attend Melbourne Cup festivities this year as Victoria reports 1,890 new Covid-19 cases.
Sunday's new cases were slightly down from a record-breaking 1,965 on Saturday when there were fears the state would soon break 2,000.
The cases were diagnosed from 74,105 tests, and 39,861 vaccine doses were administered. More than 86 per cent of Victorians have now received at least one Covid jab and more than 58 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Mr Andrews said the state is 'well on track' hit the 70 per cent double vaccination target by October 26.
Premier Dan Andrews has announced 10,000 punters can attend Melbourne Cup on November 2 (pictured, revellers at Flemington Racecourse in 2019)
Sunday's new cases were slightly down from a record-breaking 1,965 on Saturday when there were fears the state would soon break 2,000
Up to 10,000 double-vaccinated punters will be allowed into Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup on November 2, with strict Covid protocols in place.
If the state hits 80 per cent double vaccination before November 4, then 10,000 punters will be able to attend Oaks Day on that date, and Stakes Day on November 7.
Fully vaccinated revellers will be spread across various zones at Flemington and will be required to wear a mask and sit in an allocated seat.
Mr Andrews also announced double-vaccinated Melbourne residents will be able to attend a live music event on October 30 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to support long-suffering musicians.
While capacity for the event hasn't been determined, 'several thousands' music lovers are expected to attend the outdoor event in just a few weeks time.
Smaller concerts to showcase Melbourne's live music scene will be held towards the end of the year, dependent on health advice from Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
The five deaths reported overnight include a man in his 50s from Melbourne, a male in his 50s from Brimbank, two men in their 70s, one from Maribyrnong and one from Wyndham and a woman in her 80s from Yarra.
There are currently 609 Victorians hospitalised with Covid-19, 126 of those in ICU and 88 are on a ventilator.
The premier said less than seven per cent of the patients in hospital are fully vaccinated.
Victoria has recorded 1,890 new Covid-19 cases and five new deaths overnight on Sunday
It comes as secondary close contacts will no longer be required to isolate, as authorities change their processes to manage escalating case numbers.
Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said since Victoria was no longer pursuing a Covid-zero strategy, about 16,000 secondary contacts would be able to leave isolation at the weekend.
'In an environment where we are unfortunately close to 2000 cases a day, the public health risk isn't there in terms of secondary close contacts when you weigh it up with the operational impact,' she said.
'So we want to dedicate our resources to primarily close contacts, confirmed cases and sensitive exposure sites.'
Primary contacts will be asked to isolate away from the rest of their household, and secondary contacts are still encouraged to get tested if they show symptoms.
Asked whether the state would reach 3,000 cases a day by the end of October, Ms Matson said 'at this point in time, we are on track in terms of hospitalisations and case numbers'.
She said the Burnet Institute was working on fresh modelling, given the high cases numbers, which would be released later this week.
As daily case numbers grow health officials have decided secondary close contacts will no longer be required to isolate (pictured, people enjoy a picnic in Melbourne on Saturday)
Of eligible Victorians 85 per cent have had one dose and 57 per cent have had two as of Friday (pictured, a paramedic prepares his ambulance in Victoria on Saturday)
Vaccinations continue to rise in Victoria, with 85 per cent of those aged over 16 vaccinated with one
