Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Germany Toughens Measures
German leaders agree tough new curbs on the unvaccinated, with plans to shut them out of restaurants, sporting events and cultural shows as the country battles to halt a record rise in COVID infections.
'Europe Must Close Jab Gap'
Europe must "close the gap" on vaccinations to stop its COVID-19 surge, with the un-jabbed driving a rise in hospitalisations, the European Union’s (EU) drug watchdog says.
UN Alarm Over Prices
The United Nations (UN) warns of an 11-percent hike in prices next year unless a surge in container freight rates caused by the pandemic is tackled.
Pfizer Does Huge Pill Deal
Pfizer says it is selling 10 million courses of its COVID-19 pill treatment to US government for US$5.3 billion.
Swiss Cool About Surge
Switzerland's health minister says no new restrictions are needed despite new daily cases quadrupling in a month to the highest this year.
Three Athletes Positive
Three athletes in China at training events for the Beijing Winter Olympics test positive. Athletes are to be kept within a "closed-loop" bubble for the Games which begin in February.
HSBC Backs HK Quarantine
Banking giant HSBC backs Hong Kong's decision to mirror China's strict zero-COVID strategy despite concern in the industry over the business hub's international isolation.
German Patient Sent To Italy
Such is the surge in Germany that, with intensive care beds filling up and staff running short, a hospital in the Bavarian town of Freising sent a virus patient to northern Italy for treatment.
More Than 5.1 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,122,675 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT Thursday.
The United States (US) has suffered the most COVID-related deaths with 767,435, followed by Brazil with 611,851, India with 464,623, Mexico with 291,573 and Russia with 260,335.
The countries with the most new deaths were the US with 1,630, followed by Russia with 1,251 and Ukraine with 752.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.