Victoria has recorded 15 new coronavirus infections and two deaths, bringing the state's death toll to 800.
There are currently 289 active cases in the state, the first time the number has dipped below 300 since 29 June.
Thursday's numbers mean the 14-day rolling average for metropolitan Melbourne has fallen again, to 15.6 from 16.4 on Wednesday.
The average for regional Victoria remains at 0.3.
The Department of Health and Human Services also reported on Thursday there were 19 cases in Melbourne with an unknown source in the two weeks between 15 and 28 September.
Seven of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks and complex cases, while eight are under investigation, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
There are no mystery cases in regional Victoria.
Mystery cases have been roughly halving week on week for the last four weeks.
Melbourne's 14-day rolling average needs to drop below five and there must be fewer than five mystery cases for a fortnight before the state eases further restrictions.
Mr Andrews said Victorians "could be optimistic" about a significant easing of restrictions on 19 October, when Melbourne is expected to move to the third step on the government's roadmap, which means there will be no restrictions on reasons to leave home or how far people can travel.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Victorians can be optimistic about a COVID-normal Christmas. Source: AAP
"This strategy is working, and people can be rightly optimistic and hopeful ... The Victorian community has risen to this challenge so well and we've just got to see this through,” he said.
The premier said "safe and steady steps" would hopefully place Victorians on the path towards a normal Christmas.
"We're confident we'll be able to build ... a COVID-normal Christmas, a COVID-normal summer, and a virus at such a low level that we can sustain that over the long term.
"That may even be for the majority, or indeed the entirety of 2021."
Victoria's devastating second wave of coronavirus has caused more than 770 deaths. The national death toll now stands at 888.
Frankston outbreak
Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng on Thursday spoke about an outbreak involving an isolating household in Frankston, which was linked to a cluster around Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Prof Cheng urged anyone with symptoms who had visited the shopping centre between 23 and 28 September to come forward for testing after eight cases were linked to its fresh food area.
He said staff had been contact traced and the shopping centre had been cleaned, so it was safe to return.
At Anglesea, on the state's Great Ocean Road, two sewage tests on different days have come back positive, which suggests the COVID-positive person is likely to be a resident, Prof Cheng said.
There is currently a testing blitz in the area after fragments of COVID-19 were found in wastewater on 22 September.
There have been no known cases in the local community.
While locals are urged to come forward for testing if they have even mild symptoms, the deputy chief health officer said drinking water in the area was safe.
"This is wastewater and not drinking water ... These are viral fragments. There is no reason to boil water or anything," Prof Cheng said.
Hardship payment boost
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan also announced Victoria will double its hardship payment from $400 to $800, which will help ease the financial load on migrants.
"This is specifically focused on those with provincial and temporary visas and undocumented migrants, those people who may have lost work, may be partners of Australian citizens [and] may be seeking refugee status in this country," Mr Donnellan said.
"As we know, a lot of casual and part-time work is not necessarily available at the moment ... This is vital that we reach out for those people who are incredibly vulnerable in your communities. Those people who may not have income."
There have been 8,300 payments made to date.
Police take over quarantine program
Meanwhile, the state government has pulled private security guards from the controversial quarantine program and replaced them with police officers.
The program, which has been blamed for the state's second wave, is now being run by the Department of Justice.
Alfred Health has been contracted to provide clinical services.
The floor managers, who were originally subcontracted by Alfred Health to catering and cleaning company Spotless, were stood down on Wednesday at the state's last remaining "hot" hotel, the Novotel in Southbank, a department spokeswoman confirmed.
Hotels have been housing Victorians who cannot safely isolate at home. International flights will remain diverted from Victoria until the state's hotel quarantine inquiry releases its final report on 6 November.
Mr Andrews said the program may have to change again when Victoria welcomes international arrivals.
With AAP.
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