Quebec Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault announces that the province will tighten their capacity restrictions in shopping malls and stores to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Global News)
Russia reports a record 589 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 41,053. (Yahoo! News)
The number of cases in Kyrgyzstan exceeds 73,000. (Xinhua News Agency)
Turkey reports a record 193 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,129. In addition, a record 31,923 new cases, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, are also reported. (Daily Sabah)
Alberta reports 1,854 new cases, a single-day record. (CBC)
Avonmouth explosion Four people are killed and another injured by an explosion at a wastewater treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol, England, United Kingdom. (BBC News)
COVID-19 vaccine Moderna says that they are expected to have 100–125 million doses of their vaccine shipped globally during the first quarter of 2021. (Reuters) Sinovac delivers one million doses of CoronaVac to Butantan Institute in São Paulo. (Reuters)
Facebook announces that it will remove misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines as countries prepare to distribute them. (CNBC)
Four people are killed and another injured by an explosion at a wastewater treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol, England, United Kingdom. (BBC News)
Hungary reports a record 182 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,324. (Hungary Today)
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says that the state is expected to receive up to 172,000 vaccine doses this month. (Des Moines Register)
Iran surpasses one million total cases of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
Italy reports a record 993 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 58,038 and surpassing the previous record of 919 new deaths recorded on March 27. (Corriere della Sera)
Moderna says that they are expected to have 100–125 million doses of their vaccine shipped globally during the first quarter of 2021. (Reuters)
Quebec Premier François Legault cancels a plan to allow Christmas gatherings of up to 10 people in the province amid an increase of cases. (The Globe and Mail)
Sinovac delivers one million doses of CoronaVac to Butantan Institute in São Paulo. (Reuters)
The number of new confirmed cases in Indonesia increases by a record 8,369 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 557,877. Papua reports the most cases of any province with 1,755 new cases. (Okezone)
The number of new confirmed cases in Russia increases by a record 28,145 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,375,546. (The Moscow Times)
The number of new confirmed cases in Vermont increases by a record 178 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 4,642. (Vermont Public Radio)
The United Kingdom announces that 300 troops will be deployed to Mali as part of the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission. (The Guardian)
The United Kingdom surpasses 60,000 total deaths from COVID-19. (BBC News)
Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup announces that stores, theatres and other facilities must close at 9:00 p.m. local time for two weeks beginning tomorrow. This announcement comes after the city reported a record 295 new cases. (The Korea Times)
Bahrain grants emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech, becoming the second country after the United Kingdom to approve the vaccine. (Arab News)
Hungary reports a record 189 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,513. (Hungary Today)
Japan reports a record 45 new deaths in the past 24 hours as the number of severe cases also hitting a record 505 patients. (Nippon.com)
The Mayor of Liverpool, England, Joe Anderson is arrested along with four others for conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation. He is subsequently suspended from the Labour Party. (BBC News)
Vienna, Tyrol and Vorarlberg begin a nationwide mass testing of their populations in an effort to limit infections when families meet during Christmas. (Reuters)
A carbon monoxide leak kills at least 18 miners at a coal mine in Yongchuan District, Chongqing, China. A search and rescue effort is underway to find six other missing miners. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 vaccination in India Pfizer announces that it has submitted their vaccine for approval in India. (Reuters)
COVID-19 vaccination in Russia Moscow begins to vaccinate high-risk workers with the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at 70 newly opened clinics across the city, marking Russia’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination. (Al Jazeera)
Hungary reports a record 193 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,706. (Hungary Today)
Iowa reports 960 hospitalized cases, making it the first time the state reported fewer than 1,000 hospitalized cases since November 18. (The Gazette)
Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer self-isolates after one of his staff members tested positive for COVID-19. (BBC News)
Moscow begins to vaccinate high-risk workers with the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at 70 newly opened clinics across the city, marking Russia’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination. (Al Jazeera)
Ontario reports a new single-day record of 1,859 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 125,385. (CBC)
Pfizer announces that it has submitted their vaccine for approval in India. (Reuters)
Quebec reports a new single-day record of 2,031 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 149,908. It is also the first time that a Canadian province has reported more than 2,000 cases in a single day. (CFCF-DT)
Saudi Arabia reports less than 200 new cases for the first time since April 4. (Arab News)
The number of new confirmed cases in Russia increases by a record 28,782 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,431,731. (France 24)
Turkey reports a record 196 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 14,705 as a weekend lockdown takes effect. (Arab News)
At least one person has died and 227 have been hospitalised by an unidentified illness in Eluru, India. The patients had a wide range of symptoms from nausea to fits and falling unconscious, and all had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. (BBC News)
Indonesia receives its first shipment of 1.2 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine. (CNA)
Italy surpasses 60,000 deaths from COVID-19. (The Irish Times)
Ontario reports 1,924 cases, a new single-day record. (CBC)
Racing Point's Sergio Pérez wins the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit, claiming his first Formula One win, and becoming the first Mexican Formula One driver to win a race since Pedro Rodríguez won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix. (The Guardian)
Russia reports a new single-day record of 29,039 cases, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2.46 million. (Reuters)
Holy See Press Director Matteo Bruni announces that Pope Francis will make his first international apostolic visit in 15 months after accepting the invitation of the Republic of Iraq and the local Catholic Church to visit the Middle Eastern country of Iraq from 5–8 March 2021. (Vatican News)
Israel–United Arab Emirates relations Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, purchases a 50% stake in Israeli Premier League club Beitar Jerusalem F.C., following the establishment of relations between the two countries this year. (BBC News)
Ontario reports 1,925 cases, a new single-day record. (Global News)
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, purchases a 50% stake in Israeli Premier League club Beitar Jerusalem F.C., following the establishment of relations between the two countries this year. (BBC News)
Swedish furniture giant IKEA says it will stop printing its famed annual catalogue, ending a seven-decade tradition as customers move to digital alternatives. (Retail Gazette)
The number of people infected by a mysterious illness in the city of Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, increases to more than 400. The majority of those infected are children and young people. (CNN)
Turkey reports a record 203 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 15,103. (Daily Sabah)
Colorado Governor Jared Polis announces that the state will extend its statewide mask mandate for 30 more days amid a rise of cases in the state. (KDVR)
Four lions at the Barcelona Zoo tests positive for COVID-19. (NBC News)
India reports 26,567 new cases, the lowest in the country since July 10. (Reuters)
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)
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announces that the state will tighten restrictions and move back to phase 3 of the reopening plan. (The Hill)
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)
Morocco says that its Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine will be free for all citizens and will be rolled out in the following weeks. (Reuters)
Nepal and China agree that the height of Earth's highest mountain, Mount Everest, is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 ft). (Reuters)
Pope Francis issues the apostolic letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”) for the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal Church. The Pope declares a special Year of St. Joseph (December 8, 2020 — December 8, 2021). (Vatican News)
Turkey reports a new single-day record of 211 new deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll to 15,304. (Daily Sabah)
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)
Canada approves Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine and expects to receive 249,000 doses by the end of the year. (CBC)
Governor Kay Ivey announces that the statewide mask mandate and stay-at-home order will be extended until January 22. (Montgomery Advertiser)
Indonesia reports a record 171 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 18,171. (CNN Indonesia)
Japan reports a record 2,812 new cases in the past 24 hours. (The Japan Times)
Officials from The Pentagon say that they will receive 44,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech's Tozinameran vaccine. However, it will not be mandatory for soldiers to receive the vaccine. (CBS News) (U.S. News & World Report)
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)
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf tests positive for COVID-19 and begins quarantining at his home. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Turkey reports a new single-day record of 217 deaths, bringing the nationwide death toll to 15,531. (Reuters)
Belarus reports a new single-day record of 1,939 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 154,392. (Belta)
British Columbia reports a record 28 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial death toll to 587. (Global News)
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)
