Canberra reports 24 new cases of COVID-19, as restrictions change

Of the new cases, 21 are linked to known cases or ongoing clusters.

The total number of cases for this outbreak now stands at 1488, 428 of which are still active cases.

There are 18 people in ACT hospitals, including 10 in intensive care. On Monday, the government reported 17 people are in hospital, with nine in intensive care.

80.7 per cent of the Canberrans 12 and over are now fully vaccinated.

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There were 1803 negative tests on Monday. This was a slight increase on the about 1500 each day of the weekend and which prompted some concern from authorities.

Chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said on the weekend it was important residents continued to get tested as soon as they felt even the mildest of symptoms.

"Testing remains a vital step in the way we manage COVID-19, especially now that we have eased restrictions," Dr Coleman said.

Canberra shopkeepers will be able to open their doors to customers from Friday, with the ACT government bringing forward changes to restrictions after the territory reached a vaccination milestone.

Hospitality venues will be allowed to have up to 300 people from October 29, up from an expected maximum of 150 people.

Further restrictions will be eased on November 26, including changes to the density limits and the removal of a limit on household visitors, an updated pathway forward published on Tuesday showed.

Quarantine-free travel will also be allowed between the ACT and NSW, including Greater Sydney, from November 1.

Meanwhile, the ACT is no longer considered a COVID-19 hotspot by the Commonwealth as Canberrans take up vaccination at an astonishing rate.

Under the national reopening plan, the Commonwealth automatically lifts its hotspot declaration once more than 80 per cent of a state or territory's 16-and-over population has received both doses.

Victoria has recorded 1749 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths, as the end of Melbourne's sixth lockdown nears.

The health department confirmed the state now has 22,476 active cases, up by almost 150.

It comes as Victoria's COVID-19 commander suggests businesses split staff into separate groups to avoid entire workforces being knocked out by the virus as the state reopens.

Four deaths have been added to NSW's COVID-19 death toll, but the state's case numbers remain fairly steady more than a week after the first post-lockdown freedoms took hold.

Three of those who died were in their 60s, and one in their 80s. NSW recorded 273 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.

As COVID-19 cases in NSW continue tracking downwards and vaccinations climb, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says she's aiming even higher as the state emerges from lockdown.

"I want to get 95 per cent or even above," she said.

Queensland is aiming to permanently keep its domestic borders open after December 17 with the premier revealing COVID-19 quarantine requirements could also be eased for international arrivals.

The state on Monday unveiled its roadmap to reopening to the rest of Australia laying out how restrictions will be relaxed in three stages.

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