Canberra, Nov 8 (TIWN) Australia's coronavirus death toll for 2021 has surpassed that of last year as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic.

By comparison, more than 90 percent of Australia's coronavirus deaths in 2020 were in Victoria, the country's second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city.  According to federal government data, 35 percent of Australians who died with COVID-19 were in their 80s, 23 percent in their 90s and 20 percent in their 70s.  The majority of new cases reported on Monday were in Victoria, where 1,126 cases and five deaths were recorded.  Australia on Monday started its COVID-19 booster vaccination program, with anyone aged 18 and over who had their second dose at least six months ago eligible for a third shot.  So far about 89.3 percent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one vaccine dose and 80.5 percent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health.