Australia's virus-hit Victoria state has reported a major drop in new coronavirus cases, but officials warned against complacency amid a "worrying" spread of the disease in regional areas outside Melbourne.
Just 278 new cases and eight deaths were detected in Victoria - a low not seen in weeks - while a smaller outbreak in neighbouring New South Wales produced 12 additional cases and one death.
The surge in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-biggest city, had pushed daily infection rates over 700 in recent weeks.
Dozens have died during a second wave that struck after Australia appeared to have the epidemic in check. There are now signs that strict measures, including an overnight curfew and shutdown of non-essential