COVID-19 developments around the world

US

Moderna vaccine shipments begin as US reels under Covid surge. Workers began processing shipments of the second US Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday, but across the country the situation remained severe.

UK

A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, is thought to be driving increased transmission of the disease in parts of the UK.

The government has placed some regions including London under new, stricter coronavirus restrictions, known as Tier 4. People in Tier 4 areas will not be able to gather with anyone outside their household for Christmas, while those in the rest of the country can only gather on Christmas Day itself.

Thailand

The outbreak appeared in Samut Sakhon province, south-west of Bangkok, where four infections were reported at a shrimp market on Friday — the first a 67-year-old woman.

Disease Control Department director-general Opas Karnkawinpong told a news conference that 516 new cases were found after testing that included 1,192 migrant workers.

India

Even as new infections slip to the lowest levels in three months, on Saturday, India crossed the 10 million mark of total infections since the pandemic began, second behind the U.S. mark of 17 million, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Israel

Israel has become one of the first countries to start a mass coronavirus vaccination program, as the number of new cases surges.

The country will vaccinate health workers and everyone over the age of 60 initially, followed by people with underlying conditions then the rest of the adult population.