National News

LATEST NEWS ABOUT COVID-19:--NUMBERS* Confirmed cases in Australia: 5,795* Australian deaths: 40 (18 in NSW, 10 in Vic, four in Qld, four in WA, two in Tas, two in ACT).

The number of new coronavirus cases in NSW has health authorities feeling optimistic while testing clinics are being set up in areas where community transmission has become a concern.

With more than 1.2 million people infected with the coronavirus, the UN chief has appealed for "peace at home" out of concern domestic violence was rising as the social and financial toll of the pandemic deepened.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "doing well" and is expected to be back at his office shortly, housing minister Robert Jenrick says after the British leader was admitted to hospital.

China has reported 39 new coronavirus cases, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases has also surged, as Beijing continues to struggle to extinguish the outbreak despite drastic containment efforts.

Tasmania is probing an outbreak of coronavirus in the state's northwest, with five cases linked to one hospital.

Extra testing for COVID-19 will be rolled out in parts of Queensland due to 32 cases whose sources remain unaccounted for.

Leading jockey Craig Newitt fears for the future of the Tasmanian racing industry following its shutdown by the government in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Scammers are pretending to offer people financial relief from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by helping them access superannuation early.

Education ministers are looking at every trick in the book to ensure year 12 students finish school this year despite the mayhem caused by coronavirus.