Victoria's plan to return to "COVID-normal" could be delayed, despite the state recording its fifth consecutive day with no new locally-acquired infections.
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There were two new cases in hotel quarantine on Monday, bringing the number of active infections in the state to 23.
Just five active cases of locally-acquired COVID-19 remain and authorities are confident they are close to stamping out previous outbreaks.
But with NSW recording 35 new local cases and Queensland recording four on Monday, acting Chief Health Officer Dan O'Brien says there is a risk COVID could return to Victoria.
"We're feeling good about things in Victoria but what we know... is that something going on somewhere else affects us here," he told reporters on Monday.
"We can't just exclude ourselves from everywhere else and say, 'we're okay here we haven't got any cases today, therefore there's no risk,' it's just not true."
Professor O'Brien would not confirm whether the state would return to "COVID-normal" settings as planned on Thursday.
"We are moving forward with our easing of restrictions but to which level needs to be decided," he said.
He said authorities are looking at increasing capacity at stadiums and theatres, as well as allowing office workers to forgo wearing masks at their desks, but a final decision would be made closer to Thursday.
Professor O'Brien is an infectious disease expert who joined the state's public health team in January. He will remain as acting chief health officer while Brett Sutton is on leave.
Deputy Opposition Leader Peter Walsh said Victorians were not returning to offices because of the mask edict.
"Let's get rid of masks in the workplace so we actually get people back to work," he said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said there are no plans to downgrade any red zones, including Sydney and Brisbane.
"Do not presume that we are going to flick a switch anytime in the next couple of days," he said.
Travellers returning from a red zone must obtain a permit and isolate at home for 14 days, while travellers from orange zones need to isolate until they return a negative COVID-19 test.
Mr Weimar said about 45 per cent of the 9690 people with red zone permits and 40 per cent of the 50,000 people with orange zone permits have tested negative.
A St Kilda venue has been fined $10,904 for breaching COVID-19 restrictions at the weekend.
Police arrived at Riva bar in St Kilda on Saturday night to find about 1000 patrons "in clear and blatant breach" of restrictions, which include no dancefloors and a strict cap of 300 seated people at venues.
Footage posted on social media showed the maskless crowd dancing under a marquee.
Mr Weimar described the event as "hugely disappointing".
"I get people are frustrated, but this is not how you get through a pandemic," he said.
Mr Weimar said he had no intention of penalising individuals who attended.
Some 20,690 tests were processed and 13,086 vaccine doses were administered at state-run hubs in the 24 hours to Monday morning.
Australian Associated Press
