Australia's Victoria state — the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak — has reported that active coronavirus cases have fallen to a four-month low, paving the way for an acceleration in the easing of social distancing curbs.

The nation's second most populous state, which recorded just one new infection in the past 24 hours, said there are now 100 active cases — the lowest since June 19.

“This is a good number. This is a very clear sign that the strategy is working,” Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

The active infections are a relief to state authorities amid heightened fears of a fresh cluster after a case in a school in Melbourne's northern suburbs prompted authorities to order 800 people to self-isolate, Reuters reported.