The potential re-entry of unvaccinated Victorians into pubs, restaurants and cafes sometime next year could hinge on the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots.
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Victoria recorded 1069 new cases and 10 deaths on Tuesday, as the state draws nearer to its next roadmap milestone.
Just under 93 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have recieved at least one vaccine dose and 84.5 per cent both, after 11,269 were administered at state-run hubs on Tuesday.
When the state hits its 90 per cent full vaccination, forecast for about November 24, almost all restrictions will be scrapped for the double-dosed.
But Premier Daniel Andrews has reiterated the unvaccinated will remain locked out of most venues indefinitely.
"We're very clear that the vaccinated economy is here to stay," he told reporters.
He has indicated the rollout of boosters, which formally began on Monday for those who had their second jab at least six months ago, may play a role in determining when freedoms will be restored for unvaccinated people.
"Between now and Christmas, there is something like 1.7 million Australians who need a booster shot ... and we'll have our 25 per cent share of that," Mr Andrews said.
"We want to see a very strong take up of boosters. The vaccinated economy and its continuation, and the formalisation of the extension into non-essential retail is a really important part of that."
Based on feedback, the premier said vaccinated Victorians don't want to sit in pubs and restaurants next to their unvaccinated counterparts who have made the "wrong choice" in refusing the jab.
He has again urged them to reconsider.
"The vaccines are free, they are effective and they are safe," Mr Andrews said.
"They keep you out of hospital, they keep us open, and five-plus million Victorians have done this and they've done it safely."
There are 579 Victorians in hospital, of whom 90 are in intensive care including 55 on ventilators. The seven-day hospitalisation average has fallen by 13 to 615.
The latest 10 deaths were people aged in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, and take the state's toll to 1192.
Victoria is on Wednesday or Thursday set to hit 100,000 total infections since the pandemic began.
The further 1069 new infections reported on Tuesday pushed the state's case total to 99,183, with 15,607 of those still active.
It was the sixth consecutive day Victoria recorded a daily infection number above 1000.
Australian Associated Press
