COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports 2,447 cases on Christmas Eve, a new single-day record. (The Chronicle-Journal)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec reports 2,349 cases over the past 24 hours, a new single-day record. (Montreal Gazette)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia reports a record 29,935 new cases and 635 deaths in the past 24 hours, thus bringing the nationwide totals to 2,963,688 confirmed cases and 53,096 deaths. (Arab News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, COVID-19 vaccine Turkey announces that CoronaVac is 91.25% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on data in interim studies. These initial results follow Phase III trials that involved 7,371 volunteers. (Daily Sabah)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine surpasses one million cases of COVID-19. (Kyiv Post)
2018 Puebla helicopter crash Four people are arrested for a helicopter crash in Puebla, Mexico, that killed Governor Martha Érika Alonso, her husband, and former Governor Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Mali, COVID-19 pandemic in France Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cissé dies from COVID-19 in France two months after he was released by jihadist militants in a prisoner swap. (France 24) COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco, COVID-19 vaccine Morocco is expected to acquire 65 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. (ABC News) COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa reports a record 14,796 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 983,359 cases. (The Citizens)
COVID-19 pandemic in China COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong The authorities extends the compulsory quarantine in designed hotels to 21 days for visitors from outside China, Macau, and Taiwan beginning tomorrow and also ban all people who stayed in South Africa over the past 21 days from entering Hong Kong in order to prevent the spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in France, Variant of Concern 202012/01 France reports their first case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a French citizen who travelled from London to Tours, France on December 19. (Sky News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong The authorities extends the compulsory quarantine in designed hotels to 21 days for visitors from outside China, Macau, and Taiwan beginning tomorrow and also ban all people who stayed in South Africa over the past 21 days from entering Hong Kong in order to prevent the spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 258 deaths and 6,324 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide totals to 20,847 deaths and 570,304 recoveries. (CNN Indonesia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan reports their first cases of the new variant of SARS-COV-2 in five people who arrived from the United Kingdom. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan surpasses 80,000 cases of COVID-19. (Xinhua News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Lebanon reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a passenger on a Middle East Airlines flight from London on December 21. (The National)
COVID-19 pandemic in Mali, COVID-19 pandemic in France Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cissé dies from COVID-19 in France two months after he was released by jihadist militants in a prisoner swap. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco, COVID-19 vaccine Morocco is expected to acquire 65 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Rospotrebnadzor orders a 14-day quarantine for anyone who travels from the United Kingdom, with the exception of aircraft crew members, beginning tomorrow due to the spread of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, COVID-19 vaccine Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives a COVID-19 vaccine. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa reports a record 14,796 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 983,359 cases. (The Citizens)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 1,241 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 54,770 cases. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan confirms that the Republic has detected the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom as the country reports more than 1,000 for the first time in two months. (Independent.ie)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom exceeds 70,000 deaths from COVID-19. (The Independent) (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey Turkey signs a deal with BioNTech to receive up to 30 million doses of their vaccine. (Daily Sabah)
Four people are arrested for a helicopter crash in Puebla, Mexico, that killed Governor Martha Érika Alonso, her husband, and former Governor Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Ontario reports its first two cases of a new SARS-COV-2 variant in a couple from Durham Region with no known travel history, exposure, or high-risk contacts. Ontario is the first province in Canada to identify a case of this new variant. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 6,389 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 576,693. (detikNews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran extends a nighttime traffic curfew that runs from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time to 330 lower-risk "yellow" cities in an effort to sustain a recent decrease in the numbers of new cases and deaths. (Hindustan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Tokyo reports a record 949 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the prefecture to 55,851. (The Japan Times) The Japanese Foreign Ministry will ban non-resident foreign nationals from entering Japan from December 28 until the end of January after several cases of a more infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2 were reported in the country. Japanese citizens and foreign residents will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days when they enter the country. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 2,335 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 103,900. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Ontario reports its first two cases of a new SARS-COV-2 variant in a couple from Durham Region with no known travel history, exposure, or high-risk contacts. Ontario is the first province in Canada to identify a case of this new variant. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia surpasses three million cases of COVID-19, becoming the fourth country to do so after the United States, India, and Brazil. (Arab News) (Mint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain COVID-19 vaccine Spain receives its first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine tozinameran in Guadalajara, a day before the country begins its vaccination programme. (Euro Weekly News) COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Madrid reports the nation's first four cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Sweden reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 after a traveller from the United Kingdom tested positive for COVID-19. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Madrid reports the nation's first four cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues guidelines stating that people with underlying health conditions can receive the vaccine. (The Hill) One out of every 1,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to a comparison of census and death toll estimates. (CNN)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, 2020 NFL season The Cleveland Browns announce that they will close their facility and delay their flight to New Jersey for an upcoming matchup with the New York Jets after a player on the team tested positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues guidelines stating that people with underlying health conditions can receive the vaccine. (The Hill)
Boko Haram insurgency Boko Haram jihadists storm a village near Gamboru, Borno State, Nigeria, killing three people and kidnapping more than 40 others. It is the second mass abduction by the Islamist group this month. (Al Jazeera)
Boko Haram jihadists storm a village near Gamboru, Borno State, Nigeria, killing three people and kidnapping more than 40 others. It is the second mass abduction by the Islamist group this month. (Al Jazeera)
British Columbia reports their first case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from a man in Island Health who returned from the United Kingdom on December 15 and tested positive on December 19. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Variant of Concern 202012/01 British Columbia reports their first case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from a man in Island Health who returned from the United Kingdom on December 15 and tested positive on December 19. (CBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Variant of Concern 202012/01 British Columbia reports their first case of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from a man in Island Health who returned from the United Kingdom on December 15 and tested positive on December 19. (CBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec reports 6,783 cases and 110 deaths between 24 and 26 December, bringing the total number of cases to 192,655 and deaths to 8,023. (Toronto Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia Indonesia reports a record 6,983 recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of recoveries to 583,676. (Kompas)
COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Jordan reports their first two cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a couple who travelled from the United Kingdom. (Medical Xpress)
COVID-19 pandemic in Norway, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Norway reports its first cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, after two people who travelled from the United Kingdom earlier in December test positive for COVID-19. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Portugal reports their first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom in Madeira. (PUBLICO)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec Quebec reports 6,783 cases and 110 deaths between 24 and 26 December, bringing the total number of cases to 192,655 and deaths to 8,023. (Toronto Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia announces that they will lift their flight ban on non-Saudis leaving the country. (Al Arabiya)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South Africa surpasses one million cases of COVID-19, becoming the first African country to reach this milestone. (Voice of America)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea extends its current social distancing measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 until January 3, as record numbers of new cases are being reported. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay Uruguay reported a record of 11 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 158. (El País)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Alberta reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom. (Daily Hive)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Alberta reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who travelled from the United Kingdom. (Daily Hive) Canada surpasses 15,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Finland, Variant of Concern 202012/01, 501.V2 variant Finland reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom, after a person who travelled from Western Europe tested positive for COVID-19. (Yle) A separate, second variant from South Africa is also reported in Finland, after two people tested positive for COVID-19. (News 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Saudi Arabia extends the suspension of all international commercial flights, as well as all entry through land and sea ports for another week due to concerns about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Gulf News)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, Variant of Concern 202012/01 South Korea reports its first cases of a more infectious variant of SARS-CoV-2, after three South Korean nationals who arrived from the United Kingdom tested positive for COVID-19, including an elderly man who has since died. (Yonhap News Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain surpasses 50,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports a record 41,385 new cases in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 40,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (BBC News)
The United Kingdom reports a record 41,385 new cases in the past 24 hours. It is the first time that the country has reported more than 40,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, 501.V2 variant Queensland reports Australia's first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa in a woman who arrived in the state on December 22 and later tested positive for COVID-19. (ABC Australia)
COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus, COVID-19 vaccine Belarus begins vaccinations with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (The Moscow Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California extends a regional stay-at-home order in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley due to rise of hospitalizations in the state. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports a record 2,553 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, along with 1,939 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 175,908. (Global News) COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Quebec reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who had been in contact with a family member who travelled from the United Kingdom on December 11 and tested positive for COVID-19 on December 13. (Montreal Gazette)
COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Chile reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a resident of Panguipulli who traveled from Madrid on December 23. (La Tercera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Colorado reports the United States' first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. The patient is a man in his 20s who is in isolation in Elbert County and has no travel history. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark Denmark extends its hard lockdown until January 17 due to substantial increases in numbers of cases and hospitalizations in the country. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in India, Variant of Concern 202012/01 India reports six cases of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who travelled from the United Kingdom and are now in isolation. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, 501.V2 variant Japan reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from South Africa in a 30-year old woman who arrived in Japan on December 19 and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announces that the state will extend its mask mandate for another 30 days after reporting 2,990 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (WKYT-TV)
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland reports a record 1,566 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 68,762. (RTÉ)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario Ontario reports a record 2,553 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, along with 1,939 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 175,908. (Global News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Pakistan reports its first cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. The patients are three people who travelled from the UK to Sindh and later tested positive for COVID-19. (The Hindu)
COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Variant of Concern 202012/01 Quebec reports its first case of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a person who had been in contact with a family member who travelled from the United Kingdom on December 11 and tested positive for COVID-19 on December 13. (Montreal Gazette)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea South Korea reports a record 40 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 859. (Al Jazeera) United States Forces Korea begins a vaccination programme against COVID-19 using the Moderna vaccine. Healthcare providers and first responders are among those who will initially receive the vaccine. (Stars and Stripes)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines extends its travel ban to 19 "flagged" countries and territories from midnight until January 15 in order to prevent new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from entering the country. (CNA)
