Authorities optimistic about Australia's coronavirus infection rate

Health authorities say Australia may have already hit its coronavirus peak with evidence showing officials have so far successfully flattened the new infection rate curve across the country.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly confirmed there are 448 people in hospitals across Australia because of coronavirus.

There are 96 people in intensive care and 35 are on ventilators.

Professor Kelly said Australia may have already endured its worst infection period.

"Whether we indeed will get a peak is hard to know," he said.

"Maybe we are there already. I don't believe so. But we will continue to get cases over the next period."

He warned despite the good news, Australians need to stay safe in order to stop the spread of the disease.

"The things that we have done in the past weeks to prevent ourselves going into that situation have been successful up till now and we have two redouble our efforts to make sure that doesn't happen into the future."

Image: Getty

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