The State has broken its previous sobering record of 19 deaths in one day, and added another 410 cases.

Australia has recorded its highest number of deaths in 24 hours – all of which are from Victoria.

Of the 21 fatalities, 16 are linked to the State’s aged care sector.

The youngest victims were in their 70s, and the oldest a woman in her 100s.

Today’s 410 new cases from the State bring the total number of active cases in Victoria to 7,877. Of those, almost 3,000 are from an “unknown source”, which is 58 more than yesterday.

Almost 2,000 active cases are in aged care and 1,079 are healthcare workers.

Acting Chief Medical Officer defends death rate

Professor Paul Kelly defended the rising death rate and number of people falling victim to the virus in aged care yesterday.

Despite Australia having the second highest rate of deaths in residential aged care – with almost 70 per cent of all fatalities linked to the sector – Professor Kelly pointed to the US as an example of how bad things could still get.

While America has recorded more than 50,000 deaths in its residential aged care, Australia has recorded just over 200.

WA border “somewhat protective”

Despite months of hearing there are “no medical grounds” for WA’s hard border, Professor Kelly admitted there was “no doubt” the measures were protective.

“WA have been extremely lucky through this process and they’ve also benefited from the international border closure, and yes, their border has no doubt been somewhat protective,” he said.

“Open their border up and they’ll be facing the other risks we’re all facing.”

However, he warned that because WA’s cases had been so low, very few people in the State would have built up immunity, leaving it open to a possible outbreak.

Read more: Australia’s State & Territory Travel Restrictions

Watch: Premier Daniel Andrews speaks after Victoria confirmed 21 further COVID-19 deaths and 410 cases overnight.

Further Australia COVID-19 news on SoPerth.com.au.