Australia’s Covid-19 cases have dropped to their lowest numbers in months with 1,036 new infections in Victoria and 177 in NSW.
Victoria’s health department confirmed 12 deaths on Sunday morning, while 22,000 residents for got vaccination over the past 24 hours.
The case numbers mark a significant reduction in new infections after the state recorded 1,355 on Saturday.
NSW had one death overnight on Sunday and said almost 94 per cent of people over 16 have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.
State leaders repeatedly warned that easing restrictions would most likely prompt an explosion of new cases throughout October, but figures in NSW have continued to drop since began to Sydney open up three weeks ago.
Sunday marked the first day the numbers in NSW dipped below 200 since July 30, when 172 infections were recorded.
Melburnians flocked to Play On Victoria on Saturday in the first major live music event to happen in the state since the city came out of lockdown (pictured: young revellers)
There are 702 Victorians fighting for live with Covid in hospital. Pictured: People shopping at Westfield Doncaster on Friday
There are 702 Victorians fighting for live with Covid in hospital – 128 are in ICU and 80 are on ventilators.
Further north, 340 people from NSW are in hospital, including 78 in ICU.
It comes just hours after angry protesters flooded Melbourne‘s CBD to rally against vaccine mandates.
On Saturday afternoon, protesters waved placards calling for the resignation of premier Daniel Andrews as they marched towards Parliament House in East Melbourne.
‘Sack Dan,’ one placard read. ‘Make Victoria great again’.
One demonstrator was filmed being tackled to the ground by officers after jumping on a police vehicle.
Protesters are outraged over plans for the state government to introduce new state of emergency laws that would give Mr Andrews sweeping powers to impose lockdowns and restrictions.
About 78 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are now fully vaccinated.
Protesters waved placards calling for the resignation of premier Daniel Andrews as they marched towards Parliament House in East Melbourne (pictured)
On Saturday afternoon, protesters waved placards calling for the resignation of premier Daniel Andrews (pictured)
On Thursday, the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 passed Victorian Parliament’s lower house.
Vaccinations have also been mandated for all retail workers with Mr Andrews telling staff they will need to have received at least one dose by Friday.
Thousands of workers from all types of retailers have been affected, including staff at florists, fashion outlets, furniture retailers, stationery stores, technology vendors.
Melbourne and Victoria’s regions were reunited after coronavirus restrictions eased at 6pm on Friday, ahead of the state hitting its 80 per cent full vaccination target at the weekend.
There were 68,484 tests processed and 22,455 COVID-19 vaccine doses at state-run hubs on Friday (Pictured: Melburnians at Play On Victoria)
Pictured: A bartender at the Southern Highlands Brewing and Taphouse on Saturday in Moss Vale, Sydney
The border between Melbourne and the regions has now come down, masks no longer need to be worn outdoors, and capacity limits increased for restaurants, pubs and cafes, and indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail reopened to fully vaccinated patrons.
But about 500,000 Victorians have yet to receive their first vaccine dose, with only 83 per cent of people aged in their 20s getting a first jab.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also granted provisional approval for the Pfizer booster, which would be given six months after the initial course of the vaccine.
The decision on whether to roll out the booster shots across the country is dependent on ATAGI advice.
The top-up Pfizer shot could be made available to all Australians over 18 in a matter of weeks, regardless of what vaccine they were given previously.
From Monday, vaccinated Australians returning to NSW from overseas will not need an exemption to do so. Pictured: A woman pouring beer at a bar in Moss Vale, Sydney, on Saturday
Severely immunocompromised Australians have already been eligible for a third dose.
NSW health issued an alert on Friday after ten cases were linked to the Tea Gardens Hotel in Bondi.
Authorities believe the patrons were infectious when they went to the busy pub on October 23 from 7.30pm until close.
Anyone who was in the venue on Saturday night is considered a casual contact and must isolate until they return a negative test result.
The pub has been referred to the regulator to have its Covid safety compliance reviewed.
From Monday, vaccinated Australians returning to NSW from overseas will not need an exemption to do so.
NSW and Victoria are the only Australian states to abolish quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers
Sydneysiders will also be able to travel to regional NSW on Monday, and the travel bubble with New Zealand will return – holiday makers will be allowed to move from NZ’s South Island to NSW and Victoria without quarantine.
Commonwealth chief medical officer Paul Kelly said on Saturday: ‘Vaccinated Australians will be able to travel internationally without seeking exemptions, and vaccinated Australian citizens, residents and their families will be able to return quarantine-free to jurisdictions that are ready.’
‘One-way quarantine-free travel to Australia from anywhere in New Zealand can recommence from 11:59pm on Sunday for jurisdictions that are ready to do so and for travellers that have been in either Australia or New Zealand for the 14 days prior to departure.’
The rules will only apply to NSW and Victoria – no other Australian state or territory has abolished quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers.