Victoria has recorded 535 new local COVID-19 cases and one death over the past 24 hours, as thousands of police patrol central Melbourne to deter anti-lockdown protesters.

Officers in Melbourne were this morning checking every entry point to the CBD for anti-lockdown protesters.

A ring of steel has been placed around the city with public transport halted and 2000 officers patrolling the streets.

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Health Minister Martin Foley said that of the day's new cases, 62 are so far linked and there are now 4974 active cases within the state.

The latest death overnight comes in a woman from the Greater Shepparton region, aged in her 70s.

A total of 414 of yesterday's cases – roughly 77 per cent – were aged under 50, with 207 people currently being treated in hospital for COVID-19.

More than 50 are in intensive care and 40 require a ventilator. 87 per cent of those are not vaccinated at all and 12 per cent were partially vaccinated.

Mr Foley said that testing numbers had been relatively high, particularly in Ballarat.

"It was a very strong day of testing yesterday, with 61,622 tests processed, some 3177 of those came from Ballarat," Mr Foley said.

"Can I say, in the last two days, five per cent of Ballarat's population, a remarkable effort, has been tested.

"It is a remarkable effort by the people of Ballarat but it is also a remarkable effort by our testing teams."

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As of today, 71 per cent of the eligible population in Victoria have received a dose of a vaccine.

Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said that suburb of Craigieburn remains of concern to authorities.

"We have 295 cases in the northern suburbs, which is 55 per cent, and 62 of those in Craigieburn," she said.

"Craigieburn is one of the most serious situations in terms of case numbers, from yesterday's numbers, it is more than double the next suburb, being Roxburgh Park, with 28 cases.

"We now have over 2500 active cases in those northern suburbs, so please, again, as the minister has said, we are establishing pop-ups in that area for vaccination. Please come forward and get that jab."

Meanwhile, Victoria Police were locking down the CBD between 8am and 2pm today to stop people convening and creating a COVID-19 "super-spreader event".

All public transport services to the CBD have been suspended between with hard barriers also been set up at key access points.

Earlier today, the first doses of the mRNA vaccine Moderna arrived in Australia.

The precious cargo came into the country last night on an Emirates flight, which landed at Sydney Airport.

The second shipment of the vaccine is expected to land on our shores in the coming days.

Police have arrested 235 people during violent anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne today, with 10 officers injured.

Of those, 193 were arrested for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, while others were detained for other offences, including allegedly assaulting police as well as drug and weapons offences.

More than 2000 police had gathered in the CBD this morning in a bid to shut down the planned protests.

READ MORE: Victoria records 535 new COVID-19 cases with particular surge in Craigieburn

Hundreds of demonstrators – many of whom are not wearing masks – then gathered in the inner suburb of Richmond at about 12pm, in a move apparently designed to avoid police.

Commander Mark Galliott from Victoria Police described the operation as a "success" in the CBD.

"We were able to mobilise all of our police patrols and resources to confront those groups and arrest those that were breaching the Chief Health Officer's directions," Commander Galliott said.

Ten police officers were injured, with six taken to hospital.

The officers sustained a range of injuries including torn muscles, a broken elbow, a broken nose, a broken finger and bruising.

"What we saw today was a group of protesters who came together, not to protest freedoms but simply to take on and have a fight with the police," Commander Galliott said.

"What we saw were angry, aggressive young males there to fight the police, not to protest about freedom.

"What we don't come to work for is get trampled, assaulted and end up going home with broken bones".

Police initially estimated between 6000 and 7000 would attend anti-lockdown attendees in the CBD but only about 500 to 700 protesters were there today.

Three police are in hospital and Commander Galliott said they were "in good spirits" and were expected to be discharged later today.

Commander Galliott said it "saddened" him to see people acting that way towards police, who were there to "protect the community and enforce the Chief Health Officer's directions".

"All we want to do is end lockdowns, get out of the lockdowns that we have at the moment and back to normality," he said.

"The only way that we can gain freedom as a society is to work together and achieve those vaccination rates."

Commander Galliott said while he hadn't costed the operation, it would've been in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars".

Earlier today, Victoria Police had set up checkpoints aimed at keeping them out of the CBD.

Images showed some demonstrators being chased by police and held by officers.

Travel to and from Melbourne's CBD by public transport and car was halted to prevent anti-lockdown protesters from gathering in the CBD.

Hundreds marched in the centre of the road chanting "no more lockdown" and "sack Dan Andrews".

Some held banners with the words "No more lockdown".

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Others claimed the mental health toll on people was too great.

Until 2pm today, no trains, trams and buses were running to central Melbourne. Services terminated at suburban stations.

Limited shuttle buses were running from key locations for residents who are permitted to travel.

Interstate protests

Meanwhile, 20 people were arrested in Sydney as NSW Police staged a major operation to prevent planned protest activity.

Protests also took place near the Brisbane and Adelaide CBDs today.

Police clashed with anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests in Queensland today.

Thousands of people gathered in Brisbane CBD's Botanic Gardens, before shifting their demonstration into a march through the city streets.

There were several arrested during the Brisbane protests, however the majority of attendees were peaceful.

Protest activity also took place in Adelaide's Rundle Park.

The first doses of the mRNA vaccine Moderna have arrived in Australia.

The precious cargo came into the country last night on an Emirates flight, which landed at Sydney Airport.

The second shipment of the vaccine is expected to land on our shores in the coming days.

One million doses of Moderna are expected to be in Australia from this weekend.

The coronavirus vaccine was created in the US and famously is partly funded by singing icon Dolly Parton, who gifted US$1 million ($1.37m) to aid research for its development.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) first gave provisional approval for the use of Moderna in Australia last month, making it our third COVID-19 vaccine, alongside AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said yesterday that over 1800 pharmacies will start distributing Moderna jabs next week, once testing by the medical safety body is complete.

"They will start aggressively during the week as they are ready and as supplies arrive to them," he said.

More than 70 percent of Australians have now had their first jab and almost 97 percent of aged care workers have had their first vaccine, Mr Hunt said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed last weekend that Australia had secured an additional one million doses of the vaccine from the European Union.

The extra doses have been acquired from a number of nations throughout the EU including Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and Bulgaria.

"In addition, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is now recommending Moderna for everyone aged 12 to 59," Mr Morrison said.

The much-needed doses have arrived as Australia reaches for 70 per cent vaccination targets to remove restrictions, after lockdowns were introduced in states and territories over the past few months.

Australia will need to reach 80 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated before international travel in and out of the country can resume.

Police have arrested 20 people in Sydney today following a major operation to disrupt planned COVID-19 protests.

The operation took place across the city, with police patrolling road and railway networks as well as parks and shopping centres.

Most arrests were made by officers on public transport into the city.

READ MORE: Anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne escalate

Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell said police will allege some were on their way to protest activity, while other people were arrested for allegedly breaching various legislation on the rail network.

Police closed down roads today around Sydney Park, in the inner-city suburb of Alexandria.

Officers arrested at least two people in the surrounding area.

Police set up roadblocks at several locations around Sydney, including North Sydney, Zetland as well as the City West Link.

There was also a police presence at Victoria Park in the inner-city and at Bass Hill shopping centre in Sydney's south-west.

New South Wales Police Minister David Elliott this week said any mass protests would be a major public health risk and police would take firm action to prevent gatherings.

"There is no doubt that these protests are a risk to public health – for the community, for police as well as for the individual health of the protesters themselves," Mr Elliott said.

"We've seen past protesters end up contracting COVID-19, so anyone who is still considering protesting needs to take a good hard look at themselves."

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said today's operation mirrored previous efforts, which he said had been successful in preventing protest activity.

"We have put in place an extremely mobile police operation with significant resources, to respond to whatever situation we are faced with."

Interstate protests

Police have deployed capsicum spray in a bid to dissipate crowds at anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne, which turned violent this afternoon.

Hundreds of demonstrators – many of whom are not wearing masks – have gathered in the inner suburb of Richmond, in a move apparently designed to avoid police.

Huge crowds of people have been seeing charging at police, while others have thrown objects and punches, assaulting officers.

Earlier today, Victoria Police set up checkpoints aimed at keeping them out of the CBD.

Police clashed with anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests in Queensland today.

Thousands of people gathered in Brisbane CBD's Botanic Gardens, before shifting their demonstration into a march through the city streets.

There were several arrested during the Brisbane protests, however the majority of attendees were peaceful.

Protest activity also took place in Adelaide's Rundle Park.

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Anti-vaccination, anti-mask and anti-lockdown protesters gathered in the area before they moved on to North Terrace with a police escort.

Masked bystanders watched on as the group marched down Grenfell Street.

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