Australia's Victoria state reports 45 new COVID-19 cases

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's coronavirus hot spot of Victoria on Friday reported its biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections in more than a week as the state began relaxing lockdown restrictions.

Victoria, Australia's second-most populous state, reported five deaths from COVID-19 and 45 cases in the last 24 hours. The state reported eight deaths and 28 cases a day earlier, its lowest daily rise in infections in nearly three months.

The southeastern state started easing curbs this week after a hard lockdown helped bring down the daily rise in infections to double-digits after it touched highs of more than 700 in early August.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Tom Hogue)