Meanwhile, outbreaks across Australia are an issue of increasing concern to Victorian authorities.
Victorian health minister Martin Foley said the previous few days were “some of most significant since the beginning of the pandemic in January 2020, right across the nation”.
“We’re now seeing the Delta variant of concern leave its mark in almost every major metropolitan centre in the country,” he said.
“The risks are considerable.”
Victoria designated Greater Darwin local government areas as red zones from 8pm on Sunday, June 27.
Greater Brisbane, Greater Perth and the Peel region in Western Australia became orange zones from 1am on Monday morning.
Greater Sydney and surrounds remain red zones, and regional NSW and ACT are orange zones, with border zones along the river being the only exception.
Mr Foley said the decision to change border restrictions were not made on a whim, they were “cautious”, “proportionate”, and they responded to the changing patterns of the spread of the virus.
It is the first time Victoria has had orange and red zones in most Australian states and territories.
Mr Foley said he sympathised with Victorians who wanted to stay connected with interstate family, but the government could not take chances with the highly transmissible Delta variant.
More than 17,500 tests were received in Victoria on Sunday, and more than 14,000 doses of vaccine.
COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said there were 114,000 vaccines delivered in state clinics last week, including 63,000 second doses last week and 60,000 second doses this week.
He encouraged Victorians to book in for their second Pfizer vaccine, and said 190,000 people had completed both doses of Pfizer to date.
QR code check-ins have doubled compared to three weeks ago, with Victorians averaging about 5 million check-ins both days of the weekend.
“We are really pleased to see such a strong response, but it’s so important that all of us continue to use QR codes wherever we go," Mr Weimar said.
“If there’s a QR code there, you should be touching on.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed 18 new infections on Monday, and said the number of COVID-19 cases could "go up considerably" in the coming week.
National Cabinet is set to hold an emergency meeting this afternoon, June 28, to consider a range of new measures, with changes to hotel quarantine on the agenda.
More to come on changes to police enforcement along the Victorian border.
Image: AAP Image/James Ross.
