More than 260,000 coronavirus tests have been carried out across the country as Australia continues to respond to the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Key points: More than 1 per cent of the population has been tested for coronavirus

More than 1 per cent of the population has been tested for coronavirus New South Wales is home to the most confirmed cases of COVID-19

New South Wales is home to the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 The national death toll has risen to 24 following a death Queensland

Those testing levels equate to more than 1 per cent of the population, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison said was a world-leading rate.

"We are the first country, to the best of our knowledge, that has been able to exceed that mark," he said.

"The testing resources that we are putting in place have been absolutely fundamental to our tracing ... to ensure that we can restrain the growth and the spread of the virus."

By 4:00pm on Thursday, Australia had conducted 268,554 coronavirus tests.

Deaths in Queensland and Victoria brought Australia's COVID-19 death toll to 24.

Nationally, there are more than 5,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

"Those testing figures are the result of some incredible work that has been done by the health ministers, the securing of the testing materials themselves, and their application right across the country," Mr Morrison said.

"It has been an extraordinary, mammoth testing effort and that has put Australia on top when it comes to ensuring we have the best information on tracking this virus."

The bulk of Australia's deaths from coronavirus have been in New South Wales. That state is also home to about half of the nation's total number of coronavirus cases.

The most recent figures, as of 4:00pm on Thursday, showed the daily increase in confirmed cases was 7 per cent nationally.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 42 seconds 42 s Greg Hunt says there are signs Australia is flattening the curve

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there were more encouraging signs that Australia might be "flattening the curve" of infections.

"Two weeks ago we were having between 25 and 30 per cent daily increases," he said.

"Then it had dropped to the low teens over the last week, and now we have seen a number of days which have allowed us to say that we have dropped below the 10 per cent daily figure to single figures with regards to our daily increase in infections.

"That means we are beginning to see early, cautious but verifiable signs of flattening the curve.

"It's not sustained yet, it hasn't been consolidated, but those early, important signs are absolutely critical."

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