1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed instances of COVID-19 have now surpassed 77.four million globally, in line with the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The quantity of showed deaths stands at extra than 1.7 million.

South Korea has moved to close down all ski hotels and wintry weather visitor spots, with a purpose to manipulate the unfold of COVID-19.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked that airways voluntarily display screen passengers for COVID-19 on flights to JFK airport, after the outbreak of a new, extra infectious mutation withinside the UK.

Concerns approximately the mutation caused oil prices to fall, notwithstanding latest optimism approximately the vaccines.

BioNTech, which partnered with Pfizer to increase their COVID-19 vaccine, has stated it’s miles assured it’ll be powerful in opposition to the brand new variation.

The Moroccan authorities has introduced a three-week curfew from 9pm to 6am, with a purpose to include the unfold of COVID-19.

  1. EU approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

The European Union has authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use. Countries consisting of France, Germany, Austria and Italy say they plan to begin vaccinations from 27 December.

“Today we upload an critical bankruptcy to a European achievement story. We authorized the primary secure and powerful vaccine in opposition to COVID-19. More vaccines will come soon,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated.

She defined that doses might be to be had for all EU nations, on the equal time and at the equal conditions.

European Medicines Agency government director Emer Cooke did strike a be aware of warning though.

“Vaccines on my own will now no longer be the silver bullet on the way to permit us to go back to ordinary lives, however the authorization of this primary vaccine is honestly a primary step withinside the proper route and an illustration that 2021 may be brighter than 2020,” she instructed a information briefing.

  1. WHO says no want for important alarm over mutation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended in opposition to important alarm following information of a new, extra infectious variation of the coronavirus this is emerged withinside the UK.

“We should discover a balance. It’s very critical to have transparency, it’s very critical to inform the general public the manner it’s miles, however it’s additionally critical to get throughout that that is a ordinary a part of virus evolution,” WHO emergencies leader Mike Ryan instructed a web briefing.

“Being capable of music an endemic this closely, this carefully, this scientifically, in actual time is a actual superb improvement for international public health, and the nations doing this kind of surveillance need to be commended.”

He delivered that nations implementing tour regulations had been performing out of an abundance of warning whilst they determine the risks. “That is prudent. But it’s also critical that everybody