Australia's Victoria state nears first COVID-19 vaccination goal

FILE PHOTO: A healthcare professional administers a dose of the Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine to Dr Chris Quinn as high-risk workers receive the first vaccines in the state of Victoria's rollout of the program, in Melbourne, Australia, February 22, 2021. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Victoria state reported a second consecutive daily fall in new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as its first-dose vaccination rate neared the 70% level where some curbs imposed to contain an outbreak of the Delta variant will be eased.

Authorities have promised to double the travel limit for 5 million residents in locked-down Melbourne, the state capital, to 10 km (6 miles) and allow an extra hour of outdoor exercise when the state hits that inoculation target.