Australia PM: outbreak trajectory encouraging

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that the current trajectory of new coronavirus cases in the country was "encouraging," according to early figures.

However, he also warned citizens not to take early indications for granted, urging them to continue to observe social measures designed to slow the spread of the new virus.

Globally, the number of confirmed infections has reached one million, with more than 50,000 deaths, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

But the true numbers are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages, many mild cases that have gone unreported, and suspicions that some countries are covering up the extent of their outbreaks.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendon Murphy said the reported number of one million cases is "probably five or 10 times as much as that."

So far, Australia has recorded 5,274 cases of the new virus.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.

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