COVID-19: Australian Updates

Australia has thus far fared well in the COVID19 pandemic, with fewer than 1000 (910) recorded deaths attributed to COVID 19 and about 30,347 recorded cases among its 25 million inhabitants. This has been achieved with stringent application of test, trace, isolate, social distance, mask, and quarantine practices and compliance of most citizens who have been subject to lockdowns, and facilitated by the nation’s island status and ability to control incoming international travel. Its rollouts of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have encountered several problems, necessitating repositioning and reordering; at this point, 22% of the population has received one dose, 3% two doses, and considerable vaccine hesitancy is reported.