Victoria has recorded 989 new COVID-19 cases and another nine deaths as a crowd of 10,000 heads to the Melbourne Cup.
There are 19,409 active cases in the state and 667 people in hospital including 127 in intensive care, with 76 of those on a ventilator.
Another 48,002 tests were processed on Monday and 16,158 vaccines administered at state-run hubs.
After running the race with empty stands in 2020, the Victorian Racing Commission will welcome punters back for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
The crowd at Flemington Racecourse may be smaller than usual, at a COVID-safe limit of 10,000 people, but the excitement in the air will be thick with hope and anticipation of a return to normality.
Those unable to get tickets to the race will be able to celebrate the colour of the Cup at home, with up to 10 visitors.
It comes as Melbourne and Victoria's regions reunited after restrictions eased at 6pm on Friday, ahead of the state hitting its 80 per cent full vaccination target at the weekend.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is poised to announce new freedoms for residents after the state reported 173 new local cases of COVID-19 and four deaths.
The new cases were recorded in the 24-hours until 8pm on Monday from 58,988 tests and rose by 38 cases from the previous day.
There are 333 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals and 72 are in ICU.
Some 93.6 per cent of people aged 16 years and older have had one dose of a vaccine and 87.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Mr Perrottet is expected to announce a further relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions after the state began transitioning out of a near four-month lockdown three weeks ago.
The changes so far only applied to people who are fully vaccinated. Restrictions for unvaccinated people aren't due to end until next month.
The premier has flagged the state could aspire to a fully vaccinated coverage rate of 95 per cent of eligible people.
Mr Perrottet will join Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant for a press conference later on Tuesday.
