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Australian Open Begins Under COVID Lockdown

VOA News

   The AustralianOpenin Melbourneis underway, but without any spectators.

   Instead of enjoying the tournament,tennis fans and the millions of
   people who live inVictoriastateareunder a five-daysnap
   shutdown,followinga coronavirus outbreak at a quarantine
   hotelinMelbourne,Victoria's capital.

   Tennisplayershave been classified asessential workers.

   Germany is banning travel from its Czech border regions and Austria's
   Tyrol because of an alarming COVID surge in the two locations. The
   restrictions go into effect Sunday.

   Missionaries in some remoteareas of Brazil have
   convincedsomeIndigenouspeoplethat the COVID-19 vaccine is not good
   forthem.The residents of one Amazonvillagepicked up bows and arrows
   tofight off healthcare workers set on inoculating theregion's
   residents.

   Brazil has 9.7 million COVID-19 cases, coming in third place in the
   world's infections, behind only India with 10. 8 million and the U.S.
   with27.3 millioncases. There are more than 107 millionglobal
   infections.

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