Victoria's daily COVID-19 numbers have jumped by more than 200 infections, while NSW recorded 216 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths.
On Victoria's first day living with new freedoms, it reported eight deaths and 1,273 new virus infections, up from 1,007 the previous day.
The health department confirmed on Friday there are now 13,813 active cases across Victoria.
There are 330 virus patients in hospital, with 57 actively infected with COVID-19 in ICU, while 58 have been cleared, and 30 are on ventilators.
In NSW the requirements for COVID-19 close contacts could change, to avoid schools opening and closing.
On Victoria's first day living with new freedoms, it reported eight deaths and 1,273 new virus infections, up from 1,007 the previous day (pictured: Melbourne's Chinatown on Thursday)
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the crisis cabinet - now called the COVID Economic Recovery Committee - will review the issue next week.
'There will be positive cases in schools, but we don't want to close them for a substantial period of time,' he said on Friday.
'I don't want kids sitting at home. I want them in the classroom.'
In his Friday update, NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty asked parents in particular to 'watch out' for COVID-19 symptoms in their children and keep them home to get tested if any arise.
'That will help protect the rest of the school,' Dr McAnulty said.
The 216 new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday were diagnosed from 72,893 tests.
This was a drop of 46 cases from the previous day.
Three men died from the virus, none of whom were fully vaccinated, taking the death toll for the pandemic in NSW to 620.
An unvaccinated man in his 50s died at St George Hospital and an unvaccinated man in his 60s died at Wollongong Hospital while a man in his 80s, who had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine died at Albury Base Hospital after acquiring the infection at Corowa Hospital.
Some 196 people are hospitalised with the virus and 28 are in intensive care, 15 of whom require ventilation.
Victorian health officials say virus testers processed 73,020 results on Thursday and 5842 people were vaccinated at state-run hubs.
