Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Compulsory Jabs In Austria
Austrians over the age of 18 must now be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face the possibility of a heavy fine, an unprecedented measure in the European Union (EU).
The new measure, implemented on Saturday, is the culmination of a process that began in November in the face of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Erdogan Tests Positive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has tested positive for COVID.
"After experiencing light symptoms, my wife and I tested positive for COVID-19. We have a mild infection thankfully," he tweets.
Record Hong Kong Cases
Hong Kong posts a record number of new daily infections, sending officials scrambling to ramp up testing capacity and warning that a tightening of virus-control measures could be needed.
"Based on the current growth rate of cases, we estimate that (medical isolation) facilities will soon be unable to quarantine all patients," health chief Sophia Chan says.
WHO-China Talks
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for talks on COVID-19, including on the stalled investigation into the pandemic's origins.
"We also discussed the need for stronger collaboration on COVID-19 virus origins, rooted in science and evidence," Tedros says.
French Polynesia Infections
The number of positive tests has quadrupled in a week in the sparsely populated Pacific territory of French Polynesia, official figures show.
With 2,080 infections as of Friday – compared to 579 seven days earlier – the incidence rate is now 753 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Over 900,000 US Deaths
The United States (US) COVID death toll has surpassed 900,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
The toll had hit 800,000 dead just a month and a half ago. New cases linked to the Omicron variant are falling, but daily deaths are still rising, with a current average of 2,400, according to government figures.
5.7 Million Dead
Coronavirus has killed at least 5.7 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Saturday.
The US has recorded the most COVID deaths with 901,391, followed by Brazil with 630,494, India 501,114 and Russia 334,743.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the WHO estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.