Britain resisted pressure on Thursday to impose a second nationwide lockdown after France and Germany ordered sweeping restrictions on social life to contain a surge in coronavirus infections that has pushed health services to their limits.
According to Worldometer, more than 44.9 million people have been infected with 1.18 million deaths. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 32 million people have recovered.
Europe
France's new national lockdown may have to be extended beyond its initial December 1 deadline, a government scientific adviser said.
German intensive care units risk being overwhelmed in a few weeks due to a surge in cases, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Britain should act sooner rather than later if it is going to follow Germany and France and take nationwide steps to slow a second wave, a British COVID researcher said.
Poland reported another daily record of infections and deaths, as massive protests sweep the country following a ruling that introduced a near total ban on abortions.
Sweden, which has shunned lockdowns, reported the third record number of new daily cases in a matter of days.
President Putin said Russia did not plan to impose a national lockdown, while the Kremlin said the healthcare system was under "maximum" pressure.
Americas
The White House coronavirus task force is warning of COVID-19 spreading in the western half of the United States and its members urged aggressive mitigation measures.
Less than a week before Election Day, President Trump held a pair of in-person campaign rallies despite surging cases and criticism he is prioritising his re-election above supporters' health.
Colombia will extend a so-called selective quarantine until the end of November, its president said.
Mexico's death toll passed 90,000 on Wednesday, after its health ministry said on Sunday the true death toll may be around 50,000 higher.
Asia-Pacific
India crossed a grim milestone of 8 million cases on Thursday, as experts warn the current festival season could bring another spike.
Middle East and Africa
Cases are accelerating in some parts of Africa and governments should step up preparations for a second wave, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Saudi Arabia will open the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims from other countries from November 1, Saudi media reported.
Tunisia banned internal travel, suspended schools and public gatherings and extended a curfew, as it tried to contain a rapid surge with hospitals nearly full.
Medical developments
Moderna is on track to report early data from a late-stage trial of its vaccine candidate next month, it said, offering the clearest timeline yet on when the world will know whether the vaccine is effective.
President Putin said Russia was facing challenges scaling up production of its main COVID-19 vaccine due to problems with equipment availability, but hoped to start mass vaccinations by the year's end.
A vaccine scheme co-led by the World Health Organization is setting up a compensation fund for people in poor nations who might suffer any side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines.
Economic impact
European stocks and commodity markets fell again on Thursday, after a return to national lockdowns in some of the region's biggest economies triggered the worst global selloff in months.
Germany can finance a $11.8 billion aid package for November without asking parliament for more money, its finance minister said.
Panama's National Assembly modified the law that limits the fiscal deficit to adjust for the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, its finance ministry said.
Reuters
