Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Johnson Braces For Report
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is girding himself for a potentially damning report into lockdown-breaching parties at Downing Street, after a police inquiry into the rule breaking dramatically ups the stakes.
China Urged To Ease Rules
China shrugs off warnings from the IMF that it should begin to "recalibrate" its aggressive zero-COVID policy to try to ease the negative impact on global supply chains and economic growth, saying it has achieved "significant results".
Denmark To Lift Restrictions
Denmark is to lift its restrictions – including mask wearing – on Tuesday, despite a record number of infections in its highly vaccinated population.
Omicron Risk 'Still High'
The risk level related to the Omicron variant remains very high, the World Health Organization (WHO) says, with 50,000 deaths in the last week and a record number of new cases.
German Growth Cut
Germany lowers its growth forecast for the coming year to 3.6 percent as the virus holds back Europe's industrial powerhouse.
Virus Hobbles Football Stars
Footballers who have had the virus complain their passing skills have been affected, a new study finds, while others suffer long-term effects including shortness of breath.
Tonga Aid Arrives
A virus-hit Australian warship delivers aid to volcano and tsunami-hit Tonga on a strict no-contact protocol after 23 cases were detected on board.
Armenian PM Positive
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is self-isolating after testing positive, though he is asymptomatic.
5.6 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,614,118 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Wednesday.
The US has recorded the most COVID deaths with 872,126, followed by Brazil with 623,843, India on 491,127 and Russia 328,105.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the WHO estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.