As it happened: Victoria records 723 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, face masks made mandatory across state; QLD border to close to Greater Sydney

It's time to wrap things up for the night - thanks very much for reading along today. It's been another tough day of news, especially for Victoria.

Today in a nutshell:

- It's been the worst day of the pandemic for Victoria. Thirteen more families are grieving the death of their relative this evening, while there was a staggering 723 new positive cases in the state. The grim result smashes the previous record of 532 infections announced on Monday. It is also now the state's deadliest day, overtaking the previous peak of 10.

- New restrictions were announced for regional Victoria. From 11.59pm on Thursday six new local government areas will no longer be able to host any visitors in their homes. In another significant announcement, face coverings outside the home will also be mandatory for all Victorians from midnight on Sunday.

A woman who has been visiting some of Melbourne's worst affected nursing homes this week has broken down on live radio describing the heart breaking conditions she has witnessed.

The woman, who used the fake name 'Julie', is working contractor and has been testing residents across Melbourne. While families are not allowed inside the facilities, 'Julie' gave gut-wrenching accounts of the scenes on ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program this evening.

"This week I've seen a great deal of sadness," she told host Raf Epstein.

"I go into aged care homes every day and I arrive in the lobby and I see boxes packed up with family names on them, you realise they're the boxes of people who have passed away ready for their families to come and collect them."

NSW Police have charged a 21-year-old man from Roxburgh Park, north of Melbourne, after he arrived from a flight on Wednesday afternoon without a permit to enter the state.

Just before 1pm yesterday, officers who were deployed at Sydney Airport for Operation Coronavirus, were requested to assist NSW Health who were talking with a man who had just arrived on a flight from Melbourne.

Police allege that the man made a number of applications for a permit and had provided false information – allegedly telling officers that he did not have a permit but would apply for one so he could care for his children.

After establishing that the man did not have children, nor a valid reason to be in NSW, police directed him to return to Victoria. He was offered options for travel and further assistance from NSW Health, which he declined.

He was charged with failing to comply with police directions and was arrested about 3.30pm before being taken to Mascot Police Station.