Australia reports highest spike in daily COVID-19 deaths

Australia on Monday reported its highest daily coronavirus deaths with 19 fatalities during last 24 hours, all in Victoria state, prompting state premier to ackwledge that COVID-19 health crisis was "greatest challenge" faced by province.

country also registered 322 new cases of confirmed infections during same period, lowest daily increase in last 12 days.

coronavirus has so far claimed 314 lives in Australia with 9,365 active cases. tably, jump from 200 to 300 virus deaths has taken just nine days. On August 1, Australia reported its 200th COVID-19 death.

At his daily COVID-19 update on Monday, Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews said COVID-19 outbreak was " greatest challenge" state has ever faced.

number of new virus cases at 322 is lowest daily increase in last 12 days. All deaths reported in last 24 hours were from Victoria.

premier said a man in his 50s, a woman in her 60s, two males in ir 70s, one male and six females in ir 80s, and one male and seven females in ir 90s were lastest fatalities of disease.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison mourned loss of lives and extended his "sincere condolences to families".

Morrison said, " news is devastating matter what COVID affects people". prime minister said briefings over weekend led him to be hopeful about situation improving in Victoria.

Victoria, country's second most populous state, has been struggling to control second wave of COVID-19. Or states have so far been successful in managing outbreak with Queensland and New South Wales reporting only one and 14 cases respectively since Sunday.

Victorians are currently in a st four lockdown. Andrews said effects of strict curbs, which were reimposed on August 3, were yet to be seen.

state government has w unveiled a multi-langu television campaign featuring victims of COVID-19, including health workers, talking about disease and challenges.

Andrews said his government does t kw how many active virus cases would be in Victoria when Melbourne's six-week, st-four lockdown is scheduled to end on September 13.

"We can't predict where we'll be at end of this. But what we can be certain of, without any doubt is that if we don't limit movement, we've got zero chance, zero chance, of driving down se numbers. That's why se decisions are important," premier said.

''I think we've all got to be careful t to be getting ahe of ourselves. Everyone wants to kw what's happening in October, with footy (football). Everyone wants to kw lots of stuff. That's fair eugh," Andrews said, ding that it would be hard to predict virus curb for next week and for a date which is five weeks away would be harder.

One of major concerns for state health authorities has been rising numbers of mystery cases in Victoria.

re are currently 7,869 active coronavirus cases in state but point of transmission in 2,863 cases is unkwn. Presently, re are 640 Victorians in hospital battling COVID-19, including 47 people in intensive care units.