Victoria records 1999 new COVID-19 cases

There were 57,818 tests conducted on Boxing Day, with three more deaths reported among the figures on Monday.

Active case numbers dropped from 17,392 on Sunday to 16,467 on Monday, despite the new cases.

While the number of people in ICU rose by three to 80, the number of people on ventilators fell from 43 to 38.

There are 368 people in hospital, down from 374 on Sunday and below the seven-day average of 376.

The state's testing woes have continued with people turned away before sites opened again on Monday, as demand outstripped capacity at multiple locations.

Authorities have encouraged those needing tests to research less well-known sites to avoid spending long hours in queues.

But the government has rejected suggestions there's been a change in policy resulting in people initially advised by the health department to get a PCR test to instead having to use a rapid test.

Government minister Lily D'Ambrosio said she didn't know that advice had been handed out, saying at this stage rapid testing is available for workplace contacts and those in childcare and education.

"Anything beyond that is a matter that's under consideration by the health department," she said.

"If advice to that effect has been handed out ... that is not known to me."

She couldn't confirm if the government had ordered more rapid tests, or how many.

Ms D'Ambrosio said state testing sites were back to full capacity, with 59 now operational.

While there were reports of some people spending more than six hours in testing queues and waiting five days for results, she said the average was much lower.

The average wait for testing is 90 minutes while 84 per cent of results are being returned within 24 hours, she said.

"There could be a number of outlying cases but the overwhelming majority can be confident - 84 per cent have been able to get their results back in 24 hours," she said.

Australian Associated Press