Victoria will ease isolation rules for more workers, including those in transport and education sectors, as COVID-19 continues to impact businesses and services.
The state recorded 37,169 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday with health authorities managing 221,726 total active cases.
Twenty-five deaths were reported, while there are 953 patients in hospital, including 111 in intensive care of whom 29 require ventilation.
New isolation rules came into effect on Thursday for supermarket retail workers and those who work in the manufacturing, distribution or packaging of food.
Ahead of national cabinet, Premier Daniel Andrews announced Victoria will ease close contact isolation rules for workers in more industries from midnight on Tuesday.
"We can also add emergency services, education, critical utilities, custodial facilities, transport and freight," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"Exempting them from isolation requirements is a common sense way in which we can keep those services, those important parts of our society, as close to normal as possible."
Construction workers on critical state government projects are also included in the exemption.
Workers must first notify their employer when they become a close contact and both parties must consent to the worker returning to the workplace.
They can then only return to work if "it is necessary for continuity of operations" and will not be allowed to go out and socialise outside work.
"You cannot go to the pub afterwards or go visit other people, it's about being able to get back to work to perform a critical function," Mr Andrews said.
Exempt workers must wear a face mask at all times and undertake daily rapid antigen tests for five days, returning a negative test before attending work.
Mr Andrews said employers will be expected to provide workers with RATs and test availability would be discussed at national cabinet.
Victoria is expected to receive about two and a half million RATs from the national stockpile and has ordered another 44 million.
"The employee cannot be asked to provide their own test, that would not be fair," he said.
The isolation changes have been welcomed by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said they will allow hard-hit businesses "to maintain viable levels of trade".
The body is advocating for greater RAT availability, particularly for small and medium businesses.
The number of Victorians over 18 who have received a booster vaccine has risen by two per cent, to 20 per cent, as more than 250,000 booster appointments are available.
New rules requiring hospitality and entertainment venues close indoor dancefloors also kicked in on Thursday, except for wedding dancefloors.
Mandatory booster arrangements now apply, requiring key workers currently eligible for a third dose to get it before February 12.
Hospital and aged care facilities are also imposing new restrictions on visitors.
