Victoria has recorded six new COVID-19 cases and two deaths, as a shopping centre outbreak continues to grow and more than 170 people were forced into self-isolation.
The commander of Victoria's COVID testing program Jeroen Weimar on Wednesday confirmed 31 cases are now linked to the Butcher Club at Chadstone Shopping Centre, up from 28 on Tuesday.
The outbreak has leaked into regional Victoria, with two people in Kilmore - 60km north of the city - testing positive after an infected Melbourne person broke restrictions to illegally dine at a local cafe.
Some 177 customers of the Oddfellows Cafe in Kilmore and their households are now self-isolating.
Mr Weimar asked anyone who visited the cafe between 30 September and 3 October to get tested, regardless of symptoms.
"We just want to ensure whether you've picked up a takeaway cafe, whether you went there and had a meal, if you've had any contact with the cafe over the three days from 30 September to 3 October, we'd like you to go and get tested," he told reporters.
"We want to see if that will bring out any other cases. We want to get to the bottom of this as quickly as we possibly can."
Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the 16,429 Victorians who were tested for the virus on Tuesday, including 1,300 people at Chadstone and 200 in Kilmore.
"I've said this literally thousands of times, but I will say it again because it's arguably the most important thing you can do," Mr Andrews said.
"If you've got symptoms, any symptoms, no matter how mild they are, don't wait until tomorrow. Please go and get tested today."
The outbreak has demonstrated how the virus can "run lengths of the state" quickly, the premier said.
"All Victorians know and understand this. It is silent often with mild symptoms. It is rapid in that it moves very, very quickly, and it can be away from you well before anyone's been to get a test," Mr Andrews said.
The premier confirmed the latest victims of the virus were a woman in her 80s and a man in his 90s. Their deaths bring the state's death toll from the virus to 809 and the national figure to 897.
Sixteen Victorians are battling the virus in hospital, including two in intensive care.
Of the new cases, four are linked to known outbreaks and two are under investigation.
Melbourne's rolling 14-day new case average is now 9.9, a drop from 10.6 on Tuesday, while the number of mystery cases between 21 September and 4 October sits at 12.
The city needs a 14-day average of five cases and no more than five mystery cases during the same period before restrictions can be to further eased on October 19.
Meanwhile, about 85,000 VCE students have returned to school on Wednesday for the General Achievement Test.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others.
Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW,Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
