UPDATE: Victoria has recorded more than 700 cases of COVID-19 for the second day in a row, with 733 reported today.

EARLIER: Victoria recorded its highest ever daily number of locally acquired COVID cases on Thursday, with 766 new cases confirmed by the Department of Health, including one new case in Bendigo.

It brings the total number of active cases in the state to 6666 and sadly, four deaths were also recorded yesterday. 

Twenty one cases were recorded across regional Victoria, including one new case in Bendigo.

COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimer confirmed on Thursday morning that the case was under investigation with more information to come.

While case numbers were high, Thursday was good news for Ballarat with the local government area’s seven-day snap lockdown coming to an end from 11.59 pm Wednesday.

Restrictions in Ballarat are now back in line with the rest of regional Victoria.

Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell shires remain in lockdown but Premier Daniel Andrews said he’s proud of the regional response.

“Regional communities come together in a powerful way to deal with challenges like these,” he said.

“We saw it in Shepparton and Ballarat, and we’ll see it in Geelong, Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire too.”

The Premier also announced on Thursday that 75.2 percent of Victorians 16 and over have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and 45.6 percent have had both doses.