Victoria has recorded another 20 COVID-19 deaths as the government extends its free RAT scheme to childcare providers.
The number of people in hospital after contracting the virus sits at 575, down from 638 a day earlier.
Of those patients, 72 are in intensive care, with 30 people on ventilators.
The state reported 9,785 new infections — 2,569 from PCR results and 7,216 from rapid antigen tests.
It takes the number of officially reported active infections to 58,449, down from 59,801 yesterday.
About 46 per cent of the state's adult population has now had a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Victorian government has announced more than 1.6 million rapid antigen tests will be distributed to childcare centres for children aged three to five for voluntary twice-weekly testing.
The government is highly recommending parents take up the offer of free tests.
Education Minister James Merlino said 940,000 tests are also being provided to staff in the childcare system.
Mr Merlino said the rapid testing system was working well in schools.
"This will, overall, drive numbers down because you're identifying cases early, you're stopping the transmission," he said.
A total of 7,046 school students and 925 staff have reported positive COVID-19 test results in just over a week.
The government's free RAT scheme for students is due to run for a month, but Premier Daniel Andrews said it may be continued for longer.
"Parents are reassured by this, staff are reassured by this, families are better off and the system is safer when you can find those cases, and there will continue to be cases," Mr Andrews said.
"We will review that properly just as we said we would, and whether there's a change to that system, whether it's extended it's a bit early for us to say."
Debate over elective surgery continues
A peak Victorian health body wants private hospitals to have more autonomy over elective surgery decisions.
The state government paused elective surgery in early January, and allowed procedures to recommence yesterday at 50 per cent capacity.
Matthew Hadfield from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said private hospitals should be able to make their own decisions about restrictions.
"There has always been pressure on surgery and all these hospitals — public and private — are very, very skilled at determining when and where surgical restrictions are necessary and maximising use of those lists," Dr Hadfield said.
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy called for elective surgery to be reinstated without restrictions.
"Doctors are now speaking out, they're saying how this is hurting Victorians at a time where we need our hospitals the most," he said.
