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Hard-hit Aussie state sees 10 straight days without new virus case

NSW has recorded zero locally-acquired coronavirus infections for a 10th straight day, and no new imported cases in the past 24 hours.

No new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed from the 12,751 tests completed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, NSW Health said on Saturday.

The only infections reported since May 27 have been in hotel quarantine.

People sitting on grass at the Bondi Farmers Market, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Saturday, June 6, 2020. Coronavirus restrictions are slowly being eased across Australia with states and territories at different stages on the roadmap to reopen the nation. (AAP Image/James Gourley) NO ARCHIVING
In NSW No new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed from the 12,751 tests completed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. Source: AAP

"NSW Health would like to thank those with symptoms for coming forward, getting tested and ensuring cases in the community are identified as quickly as possible," a statement said.

"While there have no new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the virus is likely circulating among people in the community with mild symptoms.

"As such, the risk of outbreaks and a resurgence of cases remains."

The state no longer has any COVID-19 patients in intensive care and just 71 people being treating by health authorities. Some 341 cases remain active.

NSW has recorded 3,110 cases in total, with 50 people dying in the state.

Victoria has recorded no new coronavirus cases for the first time since the pandemic began, but authorities are warning the risk is not over ahead of the Black Lives Matter protests happing around Australia on Saturday.

Fears for indigenous communities

Australia's top medical officer says it would be catastrophic if the coronavirus spread to remote indigenous communities as protesters gathered in the tens of thousands.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Protesters march in solidarity with protests in the United States on June 06, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. Events across Australia have been organised in solidarity with protests in the United States following the killing of an unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota and to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)
Australia's top medical officer says it would be catastrophic if the coronavirus spread to remote indigenous communities, as protesters are urged not to attend the rallies. Source: AAP

Professor Brendan Murphy says authorities have always feared an outbreak in indigenous communities.

"The risk to loss of life and spread of this virus in some of those remote communities would be catastrophic," he said on Friday.

"This would be an absolute tragedy if we got that virus into one of our remote communities."

Prof Murphy said that while people had the right to protest, mass gatherings were dangerous in the midst of a pandemic.

One infectious person was able to pass on the virus to as many as 50 others, he said.

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