Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Nearly 120,000 UK Cases
The United Kingdom sets another daily COVID-19 infections record, fuelled by the Omicron variant. Some 119,789 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, a day after figures exceeded 100,000 for the first time.
Omicron Hospital Risk 70 Percent Lower: Agency
The risk of hospitalisation is up to 70 percent lower among people infected with the Omicron variant compared with previously dominant Delta, a UK government agency says.
China Locks Down City Of 13 Million
Thirteen million people in the northern Chinese city of Xi’an come under strict stay-at-home orders, as authorities scramble to keep their zero-COVID-19 case strategy six weeks ahead of the Winter Olympics.
Catalonia Curfew
Catalonia becomes the first Spanish region to reimpose a night-time curfew, starting Christmas Eve for 15 days, after a court approves the measure.
Italy, Greece Move On Masks
Italy contemplates imposing face masks outdoors nationwide, as Greece makes them compulsory both indoors and outside during Christmas and New Year's gatherings.
US Nod To Merck Pill
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorises Merck's COVID pill for high risk adults, a day after a similar pill by Pfizer is given the green light.
World Stocks Rebound
World stock markets rebound from Monday's sharp sell-off, on fading fears over both the Omicron coronavirus variant and elevated inflationary pressures.
Lufthansa Axes 33,000 Flights
German national carrier Lufthansa says it will cut its winter flight plan by "about 10 percent" as the spread of Omicron fuels uncertainty about travel.
Scotland Closes Nightclubs
Scotland announces that it will close nightclubs from next week to fight the spread of COVID-19.
More Premier League Postponements
Liverpool's clash with Leeds and Watford's trip to Wolves bring to 12 the number of Premier League games postponed in the past two weeks due to coronavirus outbreaks.
More Than 5.3 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,376,527 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally Thursday from official sources compiled by AFP.
The United States has suffered the most COVID-related deaths with 812,069, followed by Brazil with 618,091, India with 478,759 and Russia with 301,271.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to COVID-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.