Australia's coronavirus death toll has risen to 201, with Victorian leaders considering New Zealand-style lockdowns to get community transmission under control.
Victoria on Saturday reported the deaths of a man and two women aged in their 80s and 90s, and 397 new cases.
The state's chief health officer, Brett Sutton, said stricter lockdowns like those enforced in New Zealand were being explored. Under the Kiwi model, all businesses would shut down except for essential services.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said further restrictions could prove a "circuit breaker" for rising COVID-19 cases.
Melbourne restrictions could be escalated from next week, with The Sunday Age reporting the city may be placed under a six-week period of tighter constraints.
Such restrictions would include the almost complete shutdown of Melbourne's public transport network, starting from Wednesday.
Premier Daniel Andrews is likely to announce the new measures on Sunday or Monday, according to the Sunday Herald Sun.
Plans reportedly also include limiting the distance residents could travel from their homes and the closure of more businesses selling non-essential goods.
Decisions would be based on state and national modelling, which Mr Andrews wants publicly released.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce the tougher restrictions in coming days. Source: AAP
Mr Andrews has previously indicated Victorian lockdown restrictions could be extended past their initial mid-August expiry if daily case numbers remain high.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael Kidd implored Victorians to "go harder" in their efforts to curb infection spread.
He warned those willing to go out of the home after testing positive were making a "life or death decision" on behalf of other people.
Dr Kidd encouraged more people to use the COVIDSafe phone app, saying it would be able to detect positive cases nearby, such as in restaurants or in a supermarket queue.
He said nationally there were 50 people in intensive care, 41 of whom are in Victoria.
NSW on Saturday confirmed 17 new cases, coinciding with the closure of several Sydney venues for deep cleaning and contact tracing after being linked to coronavirus. At least one of the 17 new cases has no known source of infection.
An 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel outbreak in southwest Sydney died on Saturday, taking the NSW death toll to 52.
Queensland's latest case of COVID-19, confirmed on Saturday, is a woman who may have been infectious while working at a Brisbane nursing home.
The facility at Pinjarra Hills in Brisbane's west had already been locked down and staff and residents are being tested after the woman's husband tested COVID-positive on Friday.
The sunshine state on Saturday imposed tighter border restrictions, adding visitors from greater Sydney to the banned list, along with all people from Victoria.
Adelaide is set to receive 170 people on Saturday on a repatriation flight from India, with all going into hotel quarantine. Officials are expecting at least some to have COVID-19.
South Australia also recorded a new case of COVID-19 on Saturday - a man aged in his 20s who had returned from interstate and has been in quarantine.
The Northern Territory has reported one new case of coronavirus - a woman who travelled from Melbourne.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. It is also mandatory to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at
