The Greater Bendigo region has recorded 208 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours - a sharp drop from yesterday's 302 cases.

Unfortunately, according to data from the Department of Health active cases in the region have continued to grow, with the number now sitting at 838.

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In a slight decline from Thursday's new case numbers, the Campaspe Shire recorded 206 new cases overnight, bringing it's total number of active cases to 570.

Both the Central Goldfields and Ganawarra Shires recorded 15 new coronavirus cases putting their active number of cases at 89 and 94 respectively.

Buloke Shire recorded another 13 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours and Loddon Shire another seven.

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The Macedon Ranges reported a bigger day than yesterday with 145 new cases. It's number of active cases is now 635.

New cases in the Mount Alexander region dropped slightly to 61 in the last 24 hours taking it's total active cases to 153.

Earlier

Victoria has recorded another 34,836 COVID-19 cases overnight.

The new infections were detected from 15,440 at-home rapid antigen tests and 19,396 laboratory-run PCR tests.

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Sadly, another 18 people have died from the virus and its complications, according to Department of Health statistics.

A total of 976 spent yesterday in hospital with COVID-19, 112 in intensive care and 30 on ventilators.

It comes after the municipality saw it's largest increase since the beginning of the pandemic as Greater Bendigo recorded 302 cases.

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These numbers come as trades unions criticized the decision to send thousands of workers back to work following a national cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon.

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Speaking after the meeting, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced close contact isolation exemptions will be extended to a range of industries.

All transport, freight and logistics workers, emergency services personnel, teachers, those working in the energy, resources, water and waste management sectors will not be required to isolate if they are close contacts, as long they return a negative rapid antigen test result.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of balancing hospitalisations and the stretched health system with nationwide supply shortages.

"This is a constantly moving target," he said.

"It is a daily process of balancing the need to protect hospitals and ensure our critical workforce are available."

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