Australia is poised to post its lowest one-day rise in new Covid-19 cases in more than three weeks, stoking hopes that a second wave of new infections gripping Victoria state is finally being brought under control.

According to Reuters, Victoria reported 278 new infections in the past 24 hours, down from 410 a day earlier. Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW) reported 12 new cases, while Queensland state said it has found no new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours.

Medical personnel administer tests for the coronavirus at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing centre, as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia. — Reuters/File
Medical personnel administer tests for the coronavirus at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing centre, as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia. — Reuters/File

Barring a large rise in cases from states that have a effectively eliminated the virus, that means Australia’s total of 290 cases would be the lowest one-day rise in new coronavirus cases since July 20.

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