Australia is set to reach the key milestone of 70 per cent of its eligible population receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, despite surging case numbers in several states.
The landmark comes after 514 cases were reported on Thursday in Victoria - a record number.
It is the highest figure the state has registered since the peak of the second wave in 2020.
Ballarat will enter a seven-day lockdown after three more cases were detected in the area.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said 10,000 additional Pfizer vaccines will be deployed to Ballarat.
The state will, however, ease some virus restrictions from Saturday, with fully vaccinated people able to meet outdoors with up to five people from up to two households, while those who have not been fully vaccinated can meet with only one other person.
The five-kilometre limit will also be increased to 10 kilometres.
Meanwhile, the local government areas of Albury and Lismore in NSW will go back into lockdown less than a week after restrictions were lifted, after new positive cases were detected in both areas.
The two local government areas will go back into a seven-day lockdown from 6pm on Thursday.
The lockdown reintroduction comes as NSW registered 1351 new cases in the latest reporting period.
There were also 12 deaths in the state from the virus, taking the death toll from the recent outbreak past 200.
Stay-at-home orders will be lifted from 1pm on Thursday for 12 local areas in regional NSW.
They are the Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter local government areas.
There was good news out of the western NSW town of Wilcannia, with no daily COVID-19 cases recorded there for the first time in a month, after the town experienced a widespread virus outbreak.
The ACT also recorded 15 new cases, 11 of those linked to existing outbreaks.
The number of people in Canberra hospitals with COVID-19 has increased to nine, with one of those in intensive care and on a ventilator.
Queensland recorded one new case of the virus, connected to a cluster south of Brisbane.
The state is set to welcome walk-in appointments to its vaccine hubs.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Wednesday over-60s in Queensland would be able to access the Pfizer vaccine.
Australian Associated Press
