Daniel Andrews and John Barilaro confidence growing on regional lockdowns ending

Excluded from the bubble were Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Benalla, Buloke, Loddon, and Yarriambiack on the Victorian side and Broken Hill and Edward River on the NSW side.

The changes enforced by Victorian government are effective from Friday.

It follows Wagga, Hay, Lockhart and Murrumbidgee being removed in late July.

EARLIER: Lockdown on both sides of the border could end next week.

A flagged reopening of regional Victoria was put on hold the same day NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro gave the strongest hint yet lockdown would end in virus-free parts of his state as planned next Friday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday confirmed the likely early release for regional Victoria with the exception of Shepparton.

"Putting Shepparton aside we think we will able to end the lockdown in the rest of regional Victoria next week," Mr Andrews said.

But Melbourne won't see any meaningful easing of restrictions until the state is 70 per cent fully vaccinated, but there will be some easing when 70 per cent of single jabs is hit around September 23.

Mr Barilaro was more bullish about reopening parts of his state.

"On a local government area, slash, regional perspective, there is an opportunity to come out of lockdown post September 10," he said.

"We've got big parts of the regions that have no cases.

"This extension of two weeks has bought us time to do that.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel to get out of lockdown."

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But Mr Barilaro not could hide his disgust at lockdown protests in Albury and other parts of the state on Tuesday.

"It's selfish and self indulgent," he said.

"I'm glad there were hundreds of penalties.

"A gathering of many people, hundreds of people, can become a quick and moving feast and could become a seeding event."

Five additional cases were recorded in Shepparton in the past 14 hours which takes to 112 actives cases in the Goulburn Valley capital.

An estimated 4000 people will undergo day 13 testing in the city today.

Playgrounds will reopen today, but school students won't be returning to face-to-face learning until term four.

Victoria's 120 daily cases was the worst figure since August last year, leading to a concession the state won't be able to crush the delta variant of COVID-19.

Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said the government's latest announcement was a major letdown.

"We were like a kid at Christmas with the idea that something big was coming and frankly it is just one disappointment after another with this lot," he said.

"I think we all need change and I'd start with dumping the work permits.

"Cafes, pubs and restaurants should be open for table service with density limits one per four square metres, real estate inspections allowed like NSW, let's get the kids back to school, allow 10 people meet in a park, open hair and beauty, gyms with density limits, let people going fishing and play golf."

Late on Wednesday, a shrinking of the border bubble was confirmed.

Excluded from the bubble were Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Benalla, Buloke, Loddon, and Yarriambiack on the Victorian side and Broken Hill and Edward River on the NSW side.

The changes enforced by Victorian government are effective from Friday.

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