The state at the epicentre of Australia’s second-wave of Covid-19 infections said the number of new cases has fallen to a near two-month low, allowing authorities to detail in a week’s time how stringent lockdown measures will be lifted.

According to Reuters, Victoria said it has detected 73 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, the lowest since July 3.

The easing number of Covid-19 cases comes as the state capital Melbourne begins its fourth week of a six-week lockdown that sees residents confined to their homes, a nightly curfew imposed and large parts of the state economy ordered to close.

Australia has now recorded nearly 26,000 Covid-19 infections and 652 fatalities from the virus — far fewer than other developed countries.