Australia Government Says Social Distancing Helping to Slow Coronavirus Spread

'These are still strong rates of increase,' PM said

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a press conference alongside Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Jan. 6, 2020. Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

MELBOURNE—The rate of spread of the novel coronavirus in Australia has halved in recent days, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday as he announced an additional A$1.1 billion ($680 million) to expand telemedicine care and other health services.

The daily increase in cases in recent days was at about 13-15 percent, down from 25-30 percent seen a week ago, showing social distancing measures were working, Morrison said.