Australia's second-most populous state, Victoria, has recorded 459 cases of the new coronavirus, the second-highest daily total and up from 357 cases the previous day, the state's leader said on Sunday.

Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews also told a press briefing that the state had recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, its highest-ever daily number.

The state's second wave is being driven by workplace infections, including at aged-care and healthcare facilities, big distribution centers, slaughterhouses, cold-storage facilities and warehouses, Andrews said.

The cases were found on the day the highest number of COVID-19 tests – more than 45,000 – were carried out.

Australia has avoided the worst of coronavirus crisis seen in other countries, but authorities are struggling to contain an outbreak in Victoria. It has recorded more than 14,400 cases so far.

Victorians are subject to a six-week lockdown, border closures with other states and mandatory face-mask wearing.

"Ten families are currently planning funerals. And the youngest among them have lost someone in their forties. Please wear a mask everyone. And if you don't you will get fined," Andrews said.

The country's most populous state, New South Wales, recorded 14 new cases overnight, with almost half connected to a known outbreak at a restaurant on the outskirts of Sydney.