AUTHORITIES have apologised to border bubble residents for the inconvenience of a new permit system, but insisted it was vital they track movement across the Victorian-NSW border.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the new permit system would be in place from 1pm on Thursday, enforced from 6pm on Friday, for anyone in those communities looking to cross the border.

Mr Andrews said it was not enough to simply limit movement between Victoria and NSW, they needed to know who was moving.

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"If this virus can get from Sydney, to Byron Bay, to Dubbo, to Tamworth, then only a fool would think it couldn't get to Albury," he said.

"Logic tells you that there's every chance that it comes to those southern NSW communities, and then is a potential risk to coming into Victoria.

"I apologise for the inconvenience, but frankly, the inconvenience of a permit is nothing on being locked down."

The announcement came as Mr Andrews announced a seven-day extension to Melbourne's lockdown, after six of the 20 new COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday were infectious in the community.

Five of the 20 cases were as yet unlinked to existing outbreaks.

Mr Andrews flagged he would have more announcements in the coming days about opening up access to vaccinations to more Victorians.

COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said health authorities focus had moved to the Caroline Springs Square shopping centre and the City of Melton.

Mr Weimar said five of Wednesday's cases were only uncovered because they came forward for testing.

He said if anyone had symptoms - anywhere in Victoria - it was critical they got tested.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the new permit system would allow the Victorian government to respond quickly and effectively to any outbreaks.

11.15am

A LOCKDOWN in Melbourne has been extended for another seven days, as health authorities battle a continued outbreak of COVID-19.

It comes alongside changes to the Victoria-NSW border bubble, requiring residents of cross-border municipalities to obtain a permit to travel between Victoria and NSW from 6pm Friday.

Victoria reported 20 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24-hours to midnight, 14 of which had been in quarantine during their infectious period.

Fifteen of the new cases were linked to current outbreaks, five were still under investigation.

Authorities say the extra time is needed to help contact tracers get ahead of the highly-infectious Delta variant.

Meanwhile regional Victoria enjoyed its second day out of lockdown.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said changes to the border permit system would help protect Victoria from further incursions of COVID-19 from NSW, which reported 344 new cases on Wednesday.

Border bubble residents can still cross between Victoria and NSW for necessary goods and services, including medical care, care and compassionate reasons, paid or voluntary work, education, receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, and organised or community sport.

He also announced the extension in Melbourne, saying the Delta variant was moving quickly in the community.

Mr Andrews said there were 116 active locally-acquired cases, nearly 300 exposure sites, and more than 12,000 active primary close contacts around Greater Melbourne.

He said community movement needed to be limited for a longer period of time, so contact tracers could get ahead of the virus.

"In a very short space of time, if we were to open, we would see cases akin to tragically what's happening in Sydney right now," Mr Andrews said.

He urged Victorians to get tested if they had even the slightest symptoms.

Melbourne's lockdown will be in place until at least 11.59pm, Thursday August 19.

A full list of exposure sites is available on the Department of Health website.

Earlier

THERE were 20 new locally acquired cases of coronavirus recorded overnight from over 41,500 tests.

Of the 20 new locally-acquired cases, 15 are linked, and 14 have been in quarantine throughout their infectious period.

Five cases are under investigation.

There are now 118 active cases in Victoria.

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There were 23,811 Victorians were also vaccinated for the virus.

It comes as Bendigo Health's Mass Vaccination Centre is set to begin administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 18-39 from today.

Bookings must be made ahead of time via the Bendigo Health website and informed consent must be given before the vaccination.

Melburnians continue to wait for a decision on when the city's sixth lockdown might lift.

Two big Victorian events were cancelled on Tuesday - the AFL Grand Final Parade and the Avalon Airshow.

The exposure site list grew to more than 270, including a second housing tower in Flemington.

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