Two Aboriginal Victorians have died with COVID-19, the first virus-related deaths of First Nations people in the state.
Victoria's health department confirmed on Tuesday a 68-year-old woman and 73-year-old man who were members of the Aboriginal community had died with the virus.
The infected woman's cause of death was underlying conditions, while the man died from COVID-19 but also had other health conditions.
Their vaccination status was not disclosed.
"The Victorian government extends its sincere condolences to their families, loved ones and broader Aboriginal community at this difficult time," the health department said in a statement.
"The Victorian government will continue to work in close partnership with the Aboriginal community-controlled sector to support Aboriginal communities during the pandemic."
According to the latest federal data, as of December 1 every region across Victoria had double-dose vaccination rates between 77 per cent and 86.5 per cent among Indigenous residents aged 15 and over.
Those figures are much higher than the national average for Indigenous Australians, but lower than the broader statewide average at the time of 90.9 per cent for people 16 and over.
