Another four people have died from COVID-19 in Victoria as state records 1,275 new cases

Victoria has reported 1,275 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and a further four deaths.

A file photo of healthcare workers administering COVID-19 Rapid Antigen tests on Campus at Firbank Grammar School in Brighton, Melbourne. Source: AAP

Victoria has recorded 1,275 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections along with four virus-related deaths.

The state is now managing more than 9,630 coronavirus cases. Some 317 patients are in Victorian hospitals, slightly down on the seven-day average of 346.

Fifty-six people are in intensive care where 25 of them require ventilation.

Health officials say virus testers processed 61,650 results in the 24 hours to Saturday evening.

Victoria is now 89 per cent fully vaccinated for people aged 12 and over.

The state reported 1,166 new infections on Saturday as thousands of protesters brought parts of central Melbourne to a standstill and a child under 10 become Australia's youngest person to die with COVID-19.

The demonstrators rallied against Victoria's contentious pandemic bill - which stalled in the upper house last week - and vaccine mandates.

Watched on by police outside parliament house, the crowd chanted "Kill the bill" while carrying placards featuring a range of anti-government and anti-vaccine mandate slogans.

People participate in 'The Worldwide Rally for Freedom' protest against in Melbourne, Saturday, 20 November, 2021. Source: AAP

Despite the significant numbers, however, police declared the protest peaceful with only one arrest made.

Independent MP Catherine Cumming, who said she would vote in favour of the pandemic bill if the government scrapped vaccine mandates, led a "no more mandates" and "sack (Premier) Dan Andrews" chant.

"We are adults. We make our own decisions for our children. Get out of our lives Daniel," she said.

A counter-demonstration at the nearby Eight Hour Day Monument attracted a smaller crowd and marched through other parts of the city.

A scuffle broke out near Lygon Street between a well-known right-wing activist and the anti-fascist protesters before police intervened.

Organiser Nahui Jimenez said Campaign Against Racism and Fascism rallies in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth were designed to draw attention to the "growth of conspiratorial, anti-human and fascistic politics".

"Hostility to vaccines has become a gateway to the far right globally," she said.

This weekend is the first since Victoria lifted the majority of its lockdown laws for fully vaccinated people.

Drop in NSW cases

NSW has recorded 176 new local COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

The new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday were diagnosed from 55,330 tests.

This was a drop of six cases from the previous day.

Some 192 people are hospitalised with the virus and 32 are in intensive care.

The state is inching closer to the 95 per cent mark for first-dose vaccinations, with 94.4 per cent of residents over 16 years stepping forward for at least one jab.

Some 91.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of the 12- to 15-year-old age group, 75.3 per cent are fully vaccinated and 81 per cent have received at least one vaccine.