A third person has died from coronavirus in Victoria, with the national death toll now at 12 people.
The state’s first deaths were in their 70s, however Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said that he did not want to give the impression that “if you’re over 70 with no medical condition at all that you are not at risk of dying or needing intensive care because that is certainly the case.”
There are a total of 2,675 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia.
Dr Sutton said that the first deaths were “not unexpected” as thenumbers who tested positive increased. “They are regarded as coronavirus deaths,” he said. “The reality is if you are over 70 you are more vulnerable. This is what coronavirus does.”
He pleaded people take social distancing measures more seriously.
Coronavirus cases in Australia
Cases in Australia: 2,675
New South Wales: 1,219
Victoria: 520
Queensland: 443
Western Australia: 205
South Australia: 197
Australian Capital Territory: 44
Tasmania: 42
Northern Territory: 5