Australian state reports highest daily COVID-19 cases

ANKARA (AA) - Australia's southern Victoria state on Friday reported 428 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily infection number since the beginning of the pandemic, local media reported.

According to ABC News, the state also recorded three new deaths during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country to 116.

"We have not turned the corner here. Worse than that ... there will be dozens of individuals who will require hospitalization from these 428 people," ABC quoted the state Premier Daniel Andrews as saying.

Brett Sutton, the state chief health officer, termed the new high number as "a daily tragedy".

On Thursday, the country's most populous state reported 317 new cases, with a total of 4,500 infections.

Residents of the state are barred from entering other provinces unless approved by authorities.

With the new infections, the case count in Australia rose to 11,233, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid.