SYDNEY: More than a million Australians rushed to download an app designed to help medical workers and state governments trace close contacts of COVID-19 patients, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval rating soared on his pandemic response.

With a population of 25 million, Australia has been one of the most successful countries in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, recording just 83 deaths and 6,700 cases, due to border closures, movement restrictions, and a stay-at-home policy.

It has lowered its infection rate to currently around 1 percent from 25 percent in March.

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Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said 1.13 million Australians downloaded the tracing app CovidSafe as of 6 a.m. (2000 GMT) on Monday, nearly 4.5 percent of the country’s population.

The first one million came within five hours of launching the app, he added.

(with inputs from Agencies)