Victoria has recorded another 59 coronavirus deaths as the state government prepares to reveal its roadmap out of lockdown.
The deaths revealed on Friday include 50 people in aged care who passed away between July and August, with Premier Daniel Andrews attributing their addition to a reconciliation of data between private providers, the state's public health team and the Commonwealth.
The nine new deaths include two men and one woman in their 70s, one man in his 80s, two men and two women in their 90s and one female centenarian.
Eight of the deaths were linked to aged care outbreaks.
Victoria has also recorded 81 new cases in the last 24 hours, continuing a promising trend of stabilising case numbers after 113 cases and 15 deaths were announced on Thursday.
But Mr Andrews has warned those numbers will "explode" if the state opens up too soon.
The premier on Friday said plans for the state’s roadmap out of lockdown would be revealed on Sunday, stressing it must be done in a “safe and steady way”.
He acknowledged the business community's lockdown frustrations but said opening up quickly was not a responsible thing to do.
"It will be five minutes of sunshine and we will be back into these sorts of restrictions again. And that will be no good for any business," Mr Andrews said.
"If we don't do it in a safe and steady way, everything that Victorian workers, families, businesses - particularly businesses, in many respects - have sacrificed will count for nothing. Every single thing, every contribution, every sacrifice that has been made will count for nothing."
He said if the state was overrun by infections, there would not just be a higher death toll, but other health services could be compromised.
The Victorian government on Friday also announced it would extend its moratorium on residential evictions until 28 March.
State treasurer Tim Pallas said they'd seen more people facing housing and financial distress, with renters particularly hard-hit.
"As they're feeling greater uncertainty in terms of their material circumstances, the one thing they shouldn't have to feel is that their home is at risk," he said.
Legislation was passed early on Wednesday to extend Victoria's state of emergency by six months, down from the 12 months previously sought by Mr Andrews.
The current state of emergency, which allows police and health authorities additional powers to enforce the public health order, is set to expire on 13 September.
Meanwhile, NSW recorded eight new COVID-19 cases on Friday with just one a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. The rest were locally acquired and all linked to a known source or cluster.
One of confirmed case attended New Brighton Golf Club in Moorebank while infectious on 28 August, with anyone who spent two hours or more at the club between 6.15pm and 12.30am required to get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until midnight, 11 September.
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative. All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
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 .
