* Premier Daniel Andrews has all but dashed Victorians' hopes for significant easing of restrictions on Sunday, as an outbreak in northern Melbourne grows

* Seven new cases recorded in Victoria, all in metropolitan Melbourne

* Six are linked to known cases and one is a previous positive case and under investigation

* 98 active cases across the state, including two in regional Victoria

* NSW has recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 but confirmed five new cases in travellers in hotel quarantine

* WA recorded four cases in overseas travellers in quarantine

* Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged more people to wear masks on public transport

* In NSW, up to 30 people are now allowed to gather outdoors, group bookings at hospitality venues have been extended from 10 to 30 people and up to 300 are allowed at places of worship

* Queensland health officials are working to determine the mystery strain of COVID-19 infecting the crew of a cargo ship anchored off the Sunshine Coast

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KEY DATES

* October 26 - Tasmania's state of emergency due to expire and people from low-risk states and New Zealand will be free to enter.

* November 1 - More restrictions due to be eased in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Queensland border reopened to NSW visitors subject to conditions being met.

* November 2 - Residents from NSW could be allowed into Tasmania, with the situation being monitored. Regional Victorian residents allowed to travel to the Northern Territory if case numbers remain low.

* November 6 - Victoria's hotel quarantine inquiry report due.

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AUSTRALIAN CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS

* There were 16 new cases in Australia - seven in Victoria, five in NSW and four in WA.

* The national death toll is 905: Victoria 817, NSW 55, Tasmania 13, WA 9, Queensland 6, SA 4, ACT 3. (Two Queensland residents who died in NSW have been included in the official tolls of both states.)

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GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS

* Cases: at least 42,489,901

* Deaths: at least 1,149,229

* Recovered: at least 31,427,009

Data current as of 1630 AEDT October 24, taking in federal and state/territory government updates, Worldometer and Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.

Australian Associated Press