Alberta reports its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was originally detected in Brazil. (Edmonton Journal)
AstraZeneca provides an update that from more than 17 million people given a vaccination dose in the UK and EU, there is no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch, or in any particular country. (The Guardian)
Bahrain eases some of its COVID-19-related restrictions, allowing restaurants, cafés, swimming pools, and sport facilities to reopen, but restricts gatherings to no more than 30 people. (Gulf Today)
COVID-19 vaccination in Italy Piedmont temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine after a teacher in the town of Biella reportedly died after receiving the vaccine. (Euro Weekly News)
COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca provides an update that from more than 17 million people given a vaccination dose in the UK and EU, there is no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch, or in any particular country. (The Guardian)
Piedmont temporarily suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine after a teacher in the town of Biella reportedly died after receiving the vaccine. (Euro Weekly News)
The Netherlands suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine until March 29 following reports of Denmark and Norway regarding possible serious side effects. (RTÉ)
Brazil signs a deal with Pfizer to purchase 100 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. (Reuters)
Cyprus suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine until March 18 pending review from the European Medicines Agency following reports of possible serious side effects among vaccinated people in other EU countries. (Cyprus Mail)
Germany, Italy, France, and Spain suspend the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots. (ABC News)
Jordan reports a record 9,417 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 486,470. (Roya News)
Slovenia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reports of cases of blood clots in vaccinated people in other countries. (MedicalXpress)
Somalia receives their first shipment of 300,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX vaccine-sharing initiative. (Anadolu Agency)
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority approves the emergency use of the Pfizer–BioNTech and the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccines. (Raajje)
Turkey reports 15,503 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, and brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,894,893. (U.S. News and World Report)
Brazil reports a record 2,841 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 282,400. (Reuters)
Cambodia reports a record 105 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,430. (Khmer Times)
Delhi reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa. The patient is a 33-year old man from Kerala. (Hindustan Times)
Emeritus queen consort SofÃa receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (El Mundo)
England reports their first two cases of the new P.3. variant, which was originally detected in the Philippines and has been designated as a "variant of investigation". (The Independent)
Guinea-Bissau suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine until May amid safety concerns regarding the vaccine, including fears about blood clots. (Urdu Point)
Lithuania suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following three reports of suspected serious adverse thromboembolic reactions among vaccinated people in the country. (Baltic Times)
Massachusetts confirms its first case of the Lineage P.1 variant that originated in Brazil. (The Boston Globe)
Russia reports its first two cases of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa. (The Moscow Times)
San Marino surpasses 5,000 people vaccinated and becomes the fifth country in the world in terms of vaccine administrations in proportion to its population. (San Marino RTV)
The Israel Antiquities Authority finds fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Cave of Horror, believed to be hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome 1,900 years ago. In addition, a 10,500-year-old weaving basket made of woven flowers is also found. (Haaretz) (ABC Australia)
According to exit polls, turnout was at 82.6%, the highest since 1986. (Euronews)
Brazil reports a record 90,303 new confirmed cases from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide case total to 11,693,838. (Reuters)
Hungary reports a record 195 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,421. (Hungary Today)
Kazakhstan suspends talks with AstraZeneca for purchasing its vaccine amidst fears of blood clots in many countries. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
The Palestinian National Authority receives 61,440 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 37,440 of the doses are the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the other 24,000 doses are the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Times of Israel)
Ukraine reports a record 289 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 28,986. (UNIAN)
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay is expected to be reelected as head of the agency after no other candidates were nominated. (Reuters)
Andalusia reports its first case of the A.23.1 COVID-19 variant that originated in Uganda. (ABC.es)
Annemarie Jorritsma of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Kajsa Ollongren of the Democrats 66 party are appointed as scouts (informateur) for the next cabinet formation. (DutchNews.nl)
Chile reports a record 6,200 cases in the past 24 hours, which is the largest single-day total since June. (T13)
Due to the large number of cases, several cities are put under lockdown, including downtown Santiago. Almost 9 million people will be under quarantine as of March 27. (La Tercera)
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announces a three-week lockdown in the city beginning on March 20 which will close all cultural institutions and many non-essential shopping and entertainment malls due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. (Ukrinform)
Maharashtra reports a record 25,833 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours. (NDTV)
The Chilean Air Force announces that part of its staff in Antarctica has been vaccinated against COVID-19, making them the first people on the continent to receive a vaccine. (U.S. News and World Report)
A 27-year-old nurse dies in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, from presumed anaphylactic shock following an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine jab. (RFE/RL)
Brazil reports a record 90,570 new confirmed cases from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,871,390. (The Rio Times)
COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines The Food and Drug Administration approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Rappler)
Finland suspends the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after reporting two cases of unusual blood clotting in the brain in vaccinated people. (Yle)
Germany resumes its use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after the European Medicines Agency declares it to be safe and not associated with an increased risk of blood clots. (The Los Angeles Times)
Hungary reports a record 213 deaths and 10,759 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 17,841 and the nationwide case total to 549,839. (Hungary Today)
India reports 39,670 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day total since November 28, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11.5 million. (The Times of India)
Kenya reports a record 28 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,982. (Nation)
Mississippi reports its first case of the 501.V2 variant, which was originally detected in South Africa, in a person in Harrison County. (Mississippi Today)
Nepal grants emergency use authorization for the Indian Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the third country to do so. (Hindustan Times)
Poland surpasses two million cases of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
Seychelles approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. (UrduPoint)
The Food and Drug Administration approves the emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. (Rappler)
The Philippines reports a record 7,103 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 648,066. (ABS-CBN News)
Chile reports a record 7,084 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 925,089. (Globe Live Media)
India reports 40,953 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day total since November 29, 2020, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 11,555,284. (Hindustan Times)
Miami Beach imposes a curfew due to crowds on spring break. It will take effect beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ABC News)
The Philippines reports a new record for the second consecutive day of 7,999 confirmed cases, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 656,056. (The Straits Times)
Bulgaria surpasses 300,000 cases of COVID-19. (Bulgarian News Agency)
South Africa concludes the sale of their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines to the African Union after the country stopped using these vaccines because they were found to be not highly effective against the 501.V2 variant. (News24)
Suspected ISIL-linked militants kill 22 people in a series of raids on three villages in Tahoua Region, Niger. (Reuters)
The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU reaches a record 1,334 people. (Europa FM)
The United Kingdom reports 33 deaths in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily total since October 5. (Reuters)
Turkey surpasses three million cases of COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
Hungary grants emergency use approval for the CanSino Biologics Convidecia and Indian Covishield COVID-19 vaccines. (Daily News Hungary)
India reports 46,951 new cases and 212 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest daily case total since November and also the highest daily death total since January. (The Times of India)
Jordan reports a record 109 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 5,985. (Roya News)
Swissmedic approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Swiss Info)
The Philippines reports a record 8,019 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 671,792. (ABS-CBN News)
Two Taiwanese F-5E fighter jets collide with each other during a training exercise, with one pilot being declared dead and another missing. (UPI)
2021 Suez Canal obstruction: The Suez Canal is blocked in both directions after the Panamanian-flagged container ship Ever Given runs aground north of Egypt's Suez Port. (BBC News)
Brazil reports a record 3,251 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 298,843. It is the first time that Brazil has recorded more than 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 in a single day. (France 24)
Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that the country imposes an "emergency brake" and extends their nationwide lockdown until April 18, which including the closure of shops from April 1 to April 5, amidst a spike of the COVID-19 cases. (DW)
COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer says that they plan to develop new vaccines for other viruses following the success of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate. (CNBC)
Israelis go to the polls for the fourth time in less than two years. (BBC News)
