Coronavirus Australia live: Victoria, Qld, NSW COVID-19 updates

The pandemic has made him one of the most prominent and trusted doctors in Australia, but you might not want to go to him for hair advice.

The pandemic has made him one of the most prominent and trusted doctors in Australia, but you might not want to go to him for hair advice.

 

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has had an illustrious career even before he became one of the government's leading health experts.

In an interview on The Project on Sunday night he revealed the calming authority he brings to coronavirus press conferences is all a show, and he actually suffers from impostor syndrome whenever he has to talk at pressers.

The segment also began with an embarrassing flashback to an unfortunate haircut.

An old photo of Dr Nick Coatsworth.

The interview and picture were perfectly timed to bring some comedic relief to Australians on a day where the country's coronavirus death toll passed 500.

All of today's new deaths were in Victoria, with 17 more people dying in the hard-hit state as it reaches what will hopefully be the halfway point of its six-week lockdown.

Earlier on Sunday, Australia's chief nursing and midwifery officer Professor Alison McMillan said any vaccine that becomes available in Australia will be subject to "very strong regulatory systems" that will make sure it is safe and effective.

She also warned people to be wary of where they get their information on vaccines.

"We will be ensuring we provide clear, accurate, concise information to all Australians about the nature of the vaccine and how safe it is, and we hope and encourage all Australians seek out the information from a reliable source," Prof McMillan said.

While providing an update on case numbers and reporting the country has now lost more than 500 people to COVID-19, Prof McMillan said the government is "monitoring very closely" an outbreak in Qld linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, but said she was confident the state health authorities had a handle on the situation.

Public health alerts have been issued for more than 40 spots across Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan, in the race to track any potential cases linked to the outbreak.

The state recorded two new coronavirus infections today, while New South Wales recorded four.

WA and SA recorded one a piece, while the bulk of the day's 216 new cases came from Victoria, with 208.

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