Australia’s coronavirus hot spot state of Victoria is set to outline a plan to gradually ease its strict lockdown, with infection rates declining more slowly than hoped.

According to Reuters, Victoria has reported 63 new Covid-19 infections and five deaths, down from a peak of 725 new cases on Aug 5, shortly after the state imposed a six-week hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne. At the time, it set an end-date of Sept 13.

The state has been the epicentre of Australia’s second wave of the novel coronavirus, now accounting for about 75 per cent of the country’s 26,270 cases and 90pc of its 753 deaths.

The country is waiting to hear how state premier Daniel Andrews plans to ease the lockdown, which has dragged on Australia’s efforts to pull out of its first recession in nearly 30 years while other states have largely reopened their economies.