Victoria reports 17 Covid-19 deaths, marking Australia’s deadliest day


Melbourne CBD. (Image: Pixabay)

Australia reported its deadliest day of the Covid-19 pandemic on Sunday with 17 deaths overnight in the state of Victoria – the highest recorded single day death toll so far. The new deaths bring the state’s total to 210.

Victoria also recorded 394 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Comparing Sunday’s numbers with last week’s daily average of 400-500 new cases per day, Sunday’s infection number showed signs of easing.

Victoria, at the centre of a second-wave infections in Australia, accounts for more than two-thirds of Australia’s 20,698 cases.

‘Mystery cases’, or those cases of community transmission without a known source continues to be a challenge for authorities in Victoria.

The number of confirmed cases of community transmission without a known source has grown by 174 overnight to a total of 2,758.

Premier Daniel Andrews described those “mystery cases” as the state’s “biggest challenge”.

Meanwhile, Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne, and Stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria continue to be in place.