Victoria has recorded another 403 cases of COVID-19 bringing the total active cases to 3630.
The number of cases confirmed overnight has made it the third worst daily increase since the pandemic began.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed five new deaths overnight in a press conference on Thursday, bringing the state's total to 49.
Wednesday marked Victoria's worst day with 484 cases overnight - a bleak record since the outbreak of the virus.
The number of new infections has continued to rise in Victoria despite being put into a second-wave lockdown from July 9.
Mr Andrews urges residents to come forward as soon as they get symptoms, and remain vigilant when it comes to following the rules.
"What we've got at the moment is people who feel unwell but don't want to go and get tested quick enough because they're fearful of not being able to go to work," Mr Andrews said.
"If we want to have businesses reopen, if we want to get back to something approaching normal, then we can't continue to see stable numbers, we have to drive those numbers down."
I am deeply grateful to all of those Victorians who are wearing a mask," Mr Andrew says, "I am deeply grateful to all those Victorians who are making sacrifices large and small - to get us to the other side of this."
