Victoria recorded 867 new cases of COVID 19 in a grim new record with 28 of these coming from regional Victoria.
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There were also four deaths in Victoria on Monday with at least three of these unvaccinated.
But up until midnight Monday, Ballarat had recorded no new cases after an additional case was listed yesterday.
There were also three new exposure sites in Ballarat added to the list on Monday.
Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed an additional 140 cases have been added to Monday's tally and nine to Sunday's due to a software error affecting one of the state's pathology providers.
He said the 149 positive cases "received their advice as per normal from those pathology providers".
"That software problem has been rectified ... and this, fortunately, did not have an impact on... the people concerned getting the test results," Mr Foley said.
This means there are now 9261 active infections across Victoria, including 375 in hospital, 81 of which are in intensive care.
Mr Foley said the four deaths are a man in his 80s from Whittlesea, a woman in her 80s from Hume, a man in his 70s from Hume and a woman in her 50s from Whittlesea.
Their deaths bring the toll from the current outbreak to 29.
DHHS deputy secretary Kate Matson said a growing cluster in the Latrobe valley was the most significant contributor to the regional numbers.
"We're reporting 28 new cases in regional Victoria today and we have 12 new cases in the Latrobe Valley," she said.
"We now have 16 total active cases across three households in Moe, Morwell and Traralgon. A number of these cases were unfortunately infectious in the community...and we're aware of a household gathering that occurred over the weekend. So we have concerns that these case numbers will grow."
Mr Foley said the illegal social gathering of a number of households in the Latrobe Valley was believed to be the cause of the outbreak and would not rule out locking down the area if the infections increase.
The other regional figures include five additional cases in Mitchell Shire, three with known close contacts and one acquired from a workplace in Melbourne.
The health data also revealed there were two cases in Baw Baw, two in Geelong, one in Corangamite, and one in Warrnambool which were all existing known contacts in isolation during their infectious periods so there's in increased risk in those communities from those new cases.
A case listed as Horsham is a residential address and the case has been in Melbourne throughout their infectious period and we believe had acquired the virus in Melbourne. There were two cases in Shepparton.
The latest figures come from 49,450 test results, according to the DHHS.
Health officials say 35,160 vaccine doses were administered in the 24 hours to Monday evening.
Ballarat had a single case on Monday following a weekend of two new cases and multiple exposure sites.
However new exposure sites were added to the DHHS website for periods during the week.
New opportunities are also available for those who still need to get vaccinated but have been held up by long waits.
Ballarat Health Services' vaccination clinic at the Mercure have announced they still have 210 first dose appointments for Pfizer still available for today (Tuesday).
Bookings are essential and can be made via the online portal or by phoning 1800 675 398.
Meanwhile general practitioners and pharmacies in Melbourne suburbs hardest hit by COVID-19 are the state government's newest tool to speed up the vaccination rollout.
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced grants of up to $10,000 for clinics and pharmacies in 11 local government areas with high COVID-19 infections and low vaccination rates.
Those areas are Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Melton, Moreland, Whittlesea and Wyndham.
READ MORE: Push for young to be double-jabbed sooner
Mr Andrews said the grants would allow GPs and pharmacies to operate additional hours, hire more staff or rent out space to run vaccination hubs.
Victoria recorded 705 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Monday and one death, a man in his 70s from Darebin. It brings the toll from the current outbreak to 25.
More than 78 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 47.7 per cent have had two doses.
Melbourne's lockdown will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are double-vaccinated, which is forecast for October 26.
A more significant easing of restrictions will occur when the 80 per cent double-dose target is met, forecast for November 5.
Where can I get tested: Click here to see where you can get a COVID test.
Mr Andrews said the grants would allow GPs and pharmacies to operate additional hours, hire more staff or rent out space to run vaccination hubs.
"For a relatively modest investment, we get a huge return. More and more people vaccinated means less people in hospital, our community and economy open sooner," Mr Andrews told reporters.
Expressions of interest for the grants will open this week, with the funding to be distributed from October 4.
Moreland General Practice's principal GP Terry Ahern told AAP his Brunswick clinic plans to apply so it can hire more staff after moving its vaccination operations off-site due to rising community transmission and to cater for additional Pfizer supplies.
"We had to shift 90 people on Saturday from our clinic to off-site, which is 90 phone calls. It's a lot of extra work our staff are doing," Dr Ahern said.
While welcoming the grants, Hume Mayor Joseph Haweil said his council has been lobbying the state government for months to use its community facilities for vaccinations.
"We're fighting the clock here. We've got 3000 cases in our municipality," he told AAP.
"I just wonder about the time it takes to get something like this up and running when that offer has been on the table from our end."
Youth Activating Youth executive director Ahmed Hassan, who was one of many community leaders calling for more vaccines in Melbourne's north earlier this month, said the initiative -plus an additional 417,000 Pfizer and Moderna doses for the city's north and west - will save vulnerable Victorians' lives.
Anthony Tassone, president of the Victorian branch of the Pharmacy Guild, said the state's pharmacies have delivered 130,000 vaccine doses, with that number expected to grow quickly following the arrival of Moderna in Australia.
RACGP Victorian Chair Dr Anita Munoz says some GPs have been shouldering the cost of opening up out of hours to meet demand and the program would ease that burden.
Opposition spokeswoman for health Georgie Crozier said the funding was "too little too late" and Victoria was falling behind.
More than 78 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 47.7 per cent have had two doses.
Melbourne's lockdown will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are double-vaccinated, which is forecast for October 26.
A more significant easing of restrictions will occur when the 80 per cent double-dose target is met, forecast for November 5.
Mr Andrews said the state was looking at shortening the six week interval between first and second doses of Pfizer doses at vaccination hubs, but needs certainty on supply from the federal government before doing so.
Victoria recorded 705 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Monday and one death, a man in his 70s from Darebin. It brings the toll from the current outbreak to 25.
For exposure sites visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
- with AAP
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