COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports 47 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba Manitoba extends its COVID-19 restrictions into January. However, drive-in church services will be exempted, thrift stores will be allowed to reopen, and sales of Christmas and holiday items will be permitted. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announces that the state will tighten restrictions and move back to phase 3 of the reopening plan. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Michigan surpasses 10,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19. In response, Governor Gretchen Whitmer orders flags to fly at half staff for the next 10 days. (WDIV-TV) (WEYI-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco Morocco says that its Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine will be free for all citizens and will be rolled out in the following weeks. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Four lions at the Barcelona Zoo tests positive for COVID-19. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a new single-day record of 211 new deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll to 15,304. (Daily Sabah)
France's Ministry of Agriculture confirms an outbreak of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 (bird flu) at a duck farm in Bénesse-Maremne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. (France 24)
Japan reports 47 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the beginning of the pandemic. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announces that the statewide mask mandate and stay-at-home order will be extended until January 22. (Montgomery Advertiser)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Canada approves Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine and expects to receive 249,000 doses by the end of the year. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany reports 568 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the most since the start of the pandemic and bringing the nationwide death toll to 20,002. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 171 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 18,171. (CNN Indonesia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports a record 2,812 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland On his first full day in office, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announces that the city will close all indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (The Baltimore Sun)
COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan After nearly 30 members and staffers of the Michigan House of Representatives test positive for COVID-19, scheduled voting sessions for December 9 and 10 were cancelled. (Yahoo! News), (WXYZ-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf tests positive for COVID-19 and begins quarantining at his home. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships A Royal Caribbean ship, Quantum of the Seas, that had 1,680 guests and 1,448 crew on board, returned to Singapore on the third day of a four-day "cruise to nowhere" after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey reports a new single-day record of 217 deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll to 15,531. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in United Arab Emirates, COVID-19 vaccine The Ministry of Health and Prevention announces the registration of Sinopharm's inactivated virus vaccine BBICP-CorV, after an interim analysis of the Phase III trials showed BBIBP-CorV to have an 86% efficacy against COVID-19 infection. (Reuters)
Germany reports 568 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the most since the start of the pandemic and bringing the nationwide death toll to 20,002. (Bloomberg)
The Ministry of Health and Prevention announces the registration of Sinopharm's inactivated virus vaccine BBICP-CorV, after an interim analysis of the Phase III trials showed BBIBP-CorV to have an 86% efficacy against COVID-19 infection. (Reuters)
The number of new confirmed cases in South Korea reaches a nine-month high of 686 cases in the last 24 hours. The country now has 39,432 total confirmed cases, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. (Yonhap News Agency)
2020 H5N8 outbreak The Japanese Agricultural Ministry reports new cases of a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (H5N8) at poultry farms in Saiki, Oita and Kinokawa, Wakayama. Authorities have started culling 56,000 chickens at the farm in Saiki as well as about 67,000 chickens at the farm in Kinokawa. (Nippon.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Belarus reports a new single-day record of 1,939 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 154,392. (Belta)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports a record 28 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 587. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports a new single-day record of 1,983 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 134,783. (CFTO-DT) COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia British Columbia reports a record 28 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 587. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany reports a new single-day record of 23,679 cases, according to the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,242,203. (RND)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a new single-day record of 2,234 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide number of confirmed cases to 78,499. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announces that the state has extended their mask mandate and limits on gatherings until January 18. (WCCO-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports a new single-day record of 1,983 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 134,783. (CFTO-DT)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea surpasses 40,000 total cases of COVID-19. (KBS World)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden Sweden reports a record 7,935 new cases in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announces that the state has extended their mask mandate and limits on gatherings until January 18. (WCCO-TV) TV personality Ellen DeGeneres announces that she has contracted COVID-19. Her contraction of the virus prompts production of her show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, to be halted until January 2021. (NBC News)
European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic The European Council agrees on a compromise deal to unlock €1.8 trillion for the budget of the European Union and for the Next Generation EU recovery plan. (The New York Times)
California reports 35,468 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the pandemic began. It also reports a record number of hospitalized patients: 2,013, and record number of 2,669 intensive care patients. (KABC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Belarus reports 1,967 cases, a new single-day record. (Xinhua News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California reports 35,468 new cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record since the pandemic began. It also reports a record number of hospitalized patients: 2,013, and record number of 2,669 intensive care patients. (KABC-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Germany reports a record 29,875 new cases and 598 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1.27 million and the death toll to 20,970. (DW) Due to an increasing number of new cases and deaths, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of 16 states are expected to discuss new restrictions at a meeting on December 13. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 175 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 18,511. (Kompas)
COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia Namibia reports a new single-day record of 324 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to 16,097. (Xinhua)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts announces that the state will lift their restrictions on indoor gatherings after hospitalizations in the state dropped to 20%. However, he also urges people to stay vigilant to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Omaha World-Herald) (KETV)
COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic New Zealand creates its first "travel bubble" with the Cook Islands, citing low COVID-19 infection rates and their "special ties". The travel bubble will allow citizens to travel between both countries without having to quarantine in early 2021. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland Restaurants, cafés, non-essential shops, and other venues that serve food, reopen in Northern Ireland after two weeks of lockdown. However, pubs that do not serve food will remain closed. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portugal reports a record 95 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,373. (Yahoo! News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record 613 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 48,593. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea The number of confirmed cases in South Korea increases by 689, the highest single-day increase reported in the country since late February, bringing the nationwide total to 40,786 cases. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland Switzerland orders restaurants, bars and shops in most parts of the country to close at 7pm, as the country faces a persistently high level of new cases and deaths. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland Restaurants, cafés, non-essential shops, and other venues that serve food, reopen in Northern Ireland after two weeks of lockdown. However, pubs that do not serve food will remain closed. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine reports a record 285 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,755. (Kyiv Post)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania John E. Jones III, a federal judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announces that he has rejected a bid to temporarily block Governor Tom Wolf's statewide mask mandate and contact tracking system. (The Patriot-News)
Namibia reports a new single-day record of 324 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to 16,097. (Xinhua)
2020 H5N8 outbreak South Korea issues a 48-hour standstill order on all poultry farms across the country following a series of highly pathogenic bird flu (H5N8) cases. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia Victoria reports a new case in a person currently quarantining in a hotel. It is the first time that the state has reported a COVID-19 case in more than 40 days. (7 News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh surpasses 7,000 total deaths from COVID-19. (Dhaka Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Belarus reports 1,975 cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (The Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan reports 11 deaths, a new single-day record since the start of the pandemic. (Regina Leader-Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus Belarus reports 1,975 cases in the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (The Star) COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy reaches 64,036 total deaths from COVID-19, surpassing the United Kingdom to have the highest death toll in Europe. (Newsweek)
COVID-19 pandemic in Florida Florida surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Orlando Sentinel)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy reaches 64,036 total deaths from COVID-19, surpassing the United Kingdom to have the highest death toll in Europe. (Newsweek)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan reports 11 deaths, a new single-day record since the start of the pandemic. (Regina Leader-Post) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Florida Florida surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Orlando Sentinel) The U.S. surpasses 16 million cases of COVID-19. (USA Today)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan reports 11 deaths, a new single-day record since the start of the pandemic. (Regina Leader-Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a new record of 950 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 41,736 cases. 928 of the new cases are locally transmitted and more than 70% of these are from the Seoul Capital Area. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Florida Florida surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Orlando Sentinel) The U.S. surpasses 16 million cases of COVID-19. (USA Today)
Saskatchewan reports 11 deaths, a new single-day record since the start of the pandemic. (Regina Leader-Post)
Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority approves the registration of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by Sinopharm after Phase III clinical trials results showed an 86% efficacy rate. (Gulf News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports 22 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (Edmonton Journal)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority approves the registration of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by Sinopharm after Phase III clinical trials results showed an 86% efficacy rate. (Gulf News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta Alberta reports 22 deaths from COVID-19, a new single-day record. (Edmonton Journal) The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrive in Canada. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that after meeting with leaders of the 16 states, a hard lockdown will occur from December 16 to January 10. Non-essential shops and schools will be closed. New Year's Eve events, including the sale of fireworks and public consumption of alcohol will be banned. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait Kuwait's Ministry of Health approves an Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. (Arab News)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota North Dakota reports zero deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, making it the first time since September 20 that this has occurred. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea The number of new confirmed cases in South Korea surpasses 1,000 for the first time since the pandemic began, bringing the nationwide total to 42,766. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay Uruguay reports a new single-day record of 528 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 9,708. (gob.uy)
COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority approves the registration of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine developed by Sinopharm after Phase III clinical trials results showed an 86% efficacy rate. (Gulf News) COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait Kuwait's Ministry of Health approves an Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. (Arab News)
