VICTORIA has reported 65 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, as it enters its second day of statewide lockdown.
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It's a slight rise from the previous day's new case number, which was 61.
The state also reported one new case in hotel quarantine.
Sixteen of Sunday's cases had been already identified through rapid PCR testing, and announced on Saturday.
It comes as regional Victoria enters its first full day of lockdown, the seventh it has gone through.
An outbreak in Shepparton had grown to 21 COVID-19 cases by mid-afternoon Saturday.
The outbreak has seen Bendigo business Delacca's listed as a COVID-19 exposure site, after a positive case visited from Shepparton on August 13.
A total 44,147 COVID-19 test results were received in the 24 hours to midnight.
The state now has 440 active cases.
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BUSINESS SUPPORT PAYMENTS ANNOUNCED
BUSINESS support payments have been announced for regional Victorian businesses, as they face their fifth shutdown of the year.
Payments of $2800 per week will be available for businesses between now and September 2, while the Commonwealth disaster payment is being extended to regional Victoria.
Industry support minister Martin Foley announced the support package on Sunday, saying it was part of a continued commitment to support businesses throughout the lockdown and beyond.
Automatic payments of $5000, $10,000 and $20,000 will also be made to more than 2000 licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria, that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund.
Health authorities announced on Sunday that only 12 of Victoria's new cases were in isolation during their entire infectious period.
Fifty-five of the state's new COVID-19 cases are linked to known outbreaks, while another 10 cases have their acquisition source under investigation.
Health Minister Martin Foley urged Victorians to get vaccinated as soon as they could.
"That vaccination journey is our quickest way out of this pandemic, together with driving down our infection levels," Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley announced half a day's paid leave for all public sector employees for each dose of vaccine they received. He said this would apply to all full time or part time staff, picking up everyone from nurses, to firefighters, and teachers.
"All public sector employees are strongly encouraged to come forward and be vaccinated as soon as you're eligible," he said.
Mr Foley also announced another aged and disability care workforce vaccination blitz, saying those workforces were critical to protecting vulnerable Victorians from COVID-19.
He said workers would be able to walk up to one of more than 50 vaccination centres run by the state and get the vaccine of their choice, regardless of their age.
Mr Foley said the blitz would run from Monday to Sunday of the coming week.
He said all workers in these fields were required to receive their first dose of the vaccine by September 17.