Deadliest day of pandemic in Australia's Victoria state

Australia has reported nation's highest daily death total since virus outbreak began, but it also reported fewest daily cases from virus hotspot city Melbourne since last month. Monday's daily new case count was lowest recorded in state of Victoria since July 29. Victoria reported 322 new infections and 19 new deaths on Monday, with 14 of deaths connected to outbreaks at d care facilities.

"This news is devastating matter what COVID affects people, and we just want to reaffirm again our support through every channel we can provide it," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

Morrison said he was more hopeful w that cases are stabilizing in Victoria than he has been at any time over past week. But Victoria's state Premier Daniel Andrews cautioned that it was only a single day's data, and that some of state's most stringent lockdown measures h only come into effect at midnight Sunday.

"We are seeing some stability. That's a good thing. But that's t eugh. And that's product of masks and St 3. That's what experts tell us. next st, though, is all about se restrictions that we've h to painfully impose," Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

figures did t include new infections and deaths from or Australian states, although Victoria has been accounting for vast majority of both in recent weeks. Since outbreak began, Australia has reported more than 21,000 infections and more than 300 deaths.