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Australia government says growth rate of coronavirus infection slows

Australian Prime Minister Morrison speaks during a joint press conference at Admiralty House in Sydney

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's health minister said on Sunday there were "early, positive signs" of a slowdown in the growth rate in new coronavirus infections in the country, with the growth rate approximately halving over the past week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the slower growth in new inflections showed social distancing measures were working.

"This time last week the rate of increase on cases was up around 25% to 30% a day," Morrison told a press conference.

"That rate now over the last few days has fallen to about 13% - 15%. Now, they are still strong rates of increase, no doubt about that."

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly and John Mair; Editing by Daniel Wallis)