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Victoria - the epicentre for COVID-19 infections in Australia - on Tuesday reported the lowest one-day rise in deaths from the virus in two weeks as a second-wave outbreak eases.
Victoria said five people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day rise in fatalities since August 15, while 70 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a seven-week low.
The fall in the number of COVID-19 cases comes as the state capital Melbourne begins its fourth week of a six-week lockdown that sees residents confined to their homes, a nightly curfew imposed and large parts of the state economy ordered to close.
Australia has now recorded nearly 26,000 COVID-19 infections and 657 fatalities from the virus - far fewer than many other developed countries.
While the country has largely avoided high casualty numbers, restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have taken a significant toll on its economy.
Reporting by Colin Packham.