Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pfizer Vaccines from Poland to Boost Australia's Fight Against COVID-19

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - Poland is selling one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to
   boost Australia's comparatively low COVID-19inoculationrates.

   Australia has bought extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the Polish
   government for an undisclosed amount.The first shipment arrived
   inSydneySunday.Reports have said Poland has been trying to sell-on at
   least four million spare doses from its national stockpile.

   The deal is part of Canberra's international hunt for extra doses to
   boost its vaccination rollout. With only about a quarter of its
   population fully inoculated, Australia haslagged behindmany other
   countries.

   Half of the doses from Poland will go to 20-to-39-year-olds in the
   worst virus-hit suburbs in Sydney, where Australia's harshest lockdown
   got even stricteron Mondaywith new regulations that limit the movement
   of millions of people.

   Many residents in areas with large numbers of delta variant infections
   are not allowedto move morethan 5kilometersfrom their homes as law
   enforcement agencies assume some of the most sweeping powers the
   country has ever seen.

   Almost 18,000 police officers and 1,800 soldiers are patrolling Sydney
   streets to enforce the lockdown.

   Health authorities in New South Wales Monday reported 478 new COVID-19
   cases--a new daily record--and seven more fatalities.

   Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is urging people to obey the
   public health orders.

   "We have been seeing those case numbers rise in Sydney and New South
   Wales each day and that is terribly concerning.So, together wehave
   gotto get those numbers coming down and there are two things we can
   do.I need you to stay at home and you needed more vaccines from us.More
   vaccines are on their way, they will be there this week," Morrison
   said.

   In Victoria, officials Monday extended a lockdown in Melbourne until at
   least September 2 as delta variant infections increase.A night-time
   curfew will be imposed from 9p.m.until 5a.m.Lockdowns are also in place
   in the Australian Capital Territory--the regionsurroundingCanberra--and
   the Northern Territory.

   Travel into and out of Australiaremainsheavily restricted.Most foreign
   nationals were bannedfrom enteringin March 2020 to curb the spread of
   the virus.

   Thepolicy continues to separate many families.

   Daniella May, aGerman-Australian woman,has written a song about not
   seeing her extended family overseas.

   "In different time zones we sit, and the uncertainty we breathe, we
   with our loved-ones freeze on 'phone screens, cry and think,isthis
   Australia?" May said.

   About39,000 coronavirus cases have been reportedin Australia since the
   pandemic began, and958 people have died, according to the Health
   Department.

.