There were two new cases in Ballarat and two in Moorabool announced by the DHHS on Monday.

One case is listed in the 3350 postcode for Ballarat and one for 3356 in Sebastopol and Delacombe.

Both the Moorabool cases, which is currently in lockdown, are listed for the 3340 postcode of Bacchus Marsh.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton highlighted the growing contagion in Melbourne's south-west and in some regional areas and how vaccination rates were key to curbing the curve of rising infections.

"To cover off some of the larger 13 new cases in Latrobe, mostly Morwell and Traralgon," Prof Sutton said. "Twelve new cases in Mitchell Shire - primarily known close contacts and with links to Melbourne. 11 new cases in Shepparton for a total of 53 active cases.

"There are eight new cases in Geelong, again mostly known close contacts but with one unlinked still under investigation."

More details on Ballarat and Moorabool are yet to be revealed but the government's focus remains in pushing the protection provided by vaccinations and that low vaccination rated LGAs now represnt the biggest risk.

"The main thing I would like to emphasise is that vaccination is making a difference here, " Prof Sutton said.

"We have seen some stabilisation of numbers in Hume and in Wyndham. That really is a reflection of the huge increase in vaccination uptake in those local government areas in the last couple of weeks, as they've gone to the state average and beyond in some of those postcodes.

"The difference of vaccination is really going to be our pathway out of here, and with the Moderna vaccine being available through our pop-ups, and through pharmacies, this is a unique opportunity for everyone who is eligible, 12 to 59 years of age, for the Moderna vaccine, to take advantage of those additional doses."

Education minister James Merlino said the uptake of vaccinations in the 12-16 age group highlighted the uptake and the protection that would be in place as schools opened up in October and year 12 students prepare for their GAT on Tuesday.

"Interestingly, if we include the total eligible population of people 12 years and over, the first-dose rate is very close behind at 81.1 per cent," Mr Merlino said. "And this really does reflect the rapid and enthusiastic uptake of vaccines in the newly eligible 12 to 15-year-old cohort with 160,000 young people coming forward for their first dose in the past few weeks."

This is particularly important when almost half of all new cases were aged between 10 and 29.

It comes after Victoria recorded 1377 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and four deaths on Monday.

The health department confirmed the 1377 case figure on Monday, the fifth day in a row of four figure infections.

It has pushed the number of active infections in the state to 12,711.

More than 67,789 Victorians were tested for the virus in the 24 hours to Monday morning, while 30,985 vaccinations were administered at state-run sites.

Ballarat had four new cases announced yesterday and several new exposure sites were added across the region in Bakery Hill last night.

There were a total of 52 new cases in regional Victoria including four new cases in Ararat announced yesterday, to win Moorabool, five in Geelong and eight in Shepparton.

Ballarat south's wastewater test results also continue to show traces of COVID.

READ MORE:

Three new COVID exposure sites in Ballarat, new wastewater detections

Where can I get tested: Click here to see where you can get a COVID test.

The latest figures come after intensive care nurses have made an impassioned plea for Victorians to get vaccinated, with the number of COVID-19 hospital patients set to soar this month.

Victoria reported 1220 new locally-acquired cases and three deaths on Sunday as hospitalisations continue to rise sharply.

There are 476 people in Victorians in hospital battling the virus, up 48 from Saturday, with 98 people in ICU and 57 requiring a ventilator.

Royal Melbourne Hospital ICU nurse unit manager Michelle Spence said it had 135 patients under its care, 19 of whom are in intensive care.

She said patients were "begging" for the vaccine before being placed on life support, including a man in his 30s with no underlying conditions.

"They are very young and once we get to that point where we are about to put them on life support, it really is too late," she told reporters.

Ms Spence choked up as she described the lonely deaths of people in ICU over the last 18 months, and implored Victorians not to delay getting the jab.

"I know you're frustrated. I know you're scared. I know you're over it. We're all over it. But it's time to absolutely make a difference," she said.

Jacqui Harper, nurse unit manager at the Northern Hospital, said staff were holding up iPads so dying patients could farewell their family.

"The clinical deterioration is so sad. One minute sitting in a chair, an hour later, they could be saying their goodbyes," she said.

More ICU beds will open at the Royal Melbourne on Monday to cater for patients waiting at home and in the emergency department.

Ms Spence said flying in interstate nurses to monitor the extra beds was on the cards, with Burnett Institute modelling predicting between 1200 to 2500 Victorians will require hospitalisation after daily cases peak in mid- to late- October.

"Nothing is off the table," she said.

Premier Daniel Andrews reminded Victorians the Pfizer dose interval at state-run clinics will halve from six to three weeks in state-run hubs from Monday.

He urged those with second-dose appointments to go online and re-book to help the state bring forward hitting its 70 per cent vaccination target, forecast for October 26, triggering the end of lockdown.

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Melbourne has claimed the unwanted title of the world's most locked- down city after spending 245 days under stay-at-home orders. It will surpass the record - set by Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mr Andrews said he was proud of the sacrifices Melburnians had made over the pandemic and called for them to make one final push over the next few weeks.

"We are going to get past this. We are going to end this lockdown and open up, and all that we will enjoy then will be a result of all that we have given," he said.

But Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has called for the state government to release a concrete reopening date, rather than one tied to vaccination rates.

"It is time for them to give us the date so we can come out of this mess," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, three Victorian students have tested positive after 3000 were tested on Saturday as part of targeted LGA testing for Tuesday's repeatedly rescheduled General Achievement Test.

All students who test positive will be granted an exemption

.For exposure sites visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

- with AAP

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