* Healthcare sector marks worst day in near two months
* Citi downgrades BHP Group to "neutral" from "buy"
* NZ slips (Updates to close)
By Nikhil Subba
July 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed lower on Wednesday, dragged down by the healthcare sector, as a record surge in COVID-19 cases in the country dented investor sentiment.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO closed 1.3% lower at 6,075.10 compared with a 2.6% rise on Tuesday, its best session in over a month.
Australia recorded 501 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, its highest since the epidemic took hold in March, with Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, accounting for almost 97% of the new cases. fact that metro Melbourne, which is about 5 million people, has already been in a lockdown for the last couple of weeks and still not seeing a drop in cases is probably something to be a little concerned about," said Steven Daghlian, market analyst at CommSec.
Neighbouring New South Wales state with 16 new cases was put on "high alert" due to community transmission and COVID-19 cases in new places.
"New South Wales, the largest state,...(did not have) huge numbers but we all know how quickly it can get out of control," Daglian added.
Healthcare stocks .AXHJ fell 3.2%, marking their worst session since May 27, weighed down by industry behemoth CSL Ltd CSL.AX and Cochlear COH.AX , each dropping nearly 4%.
The world's largest miner BHP Group BHP.AX tumbled over 3% to drag the metals and mining index .AXMM 1.3% down. Peer Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX declined 1.7%.
Citi downgraded the Australia-listed shares of BHP Group to "neutral" from "buy" after the mining giant lowered its full year underlying forecast due to COVID-19 concerns. stocks .AXIJ fell 2.4%, with Wisetech WTC.AX and Afterpay APT.AX each shedding over 3.5%.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 slipped 0.1% to finish the session at 11,722.97.
Top losers were Restaurant Brands New Zealand RBD.NZ losing 2.5%, followed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp FPH.NZ closing 2% down.