Australia sees highest single-day virus deaths

MELBOURNE

Australia saw 17 more deaths from coronavirus over the past day, the highest single-day figure so far, authorities said Sunday.

The most deaths -- 15 -- were reported from Victoria state, along with 394 more cases.

The latest figure has taken the nationwide death toll to 295.

Over 4.76 million tests were carried out across the country, with 21,084 people testing positive. An upward of 11,500 patients have recovered.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 727,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since it originated in China last December. The US, Brazil, India, and Russia are currently the worst-hit countries in the world.

Over 19.63 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 11.94 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut