COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 21 December

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 76.8 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 1.69 million.

Distribution of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has begun in the United States, with sites beginning to administer shots as early as today. An advisory panel has recommended that frontline workers and those aged 75 and older be given priority.

Thailand has begun mass testing, following an outbreak of COVID-19 cases linked to a shrimp market southwest of capital Bangkok.

South Korea has reported a record 1,097 new COVID-19 cases, including an outbreak in a Seoul prison.

The Netherlands has also reported a record daily rise in cases - 13,302.

Europe's medicines regulator is set to meet today to assess the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. A green light could see inoculations start in Europe within a week.

Iran has reported 6,312 new COVID-19 cases - its lowest total in nearly two months. But officials warned the downward trend could be easily reversed.

A cluster of coronavirus cases in Sydney has grown to around 70. As a result, the Australia's states and territories have imposed travel restrictions on the city's residents.

2. British restrictions tightened

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced tough new restrictions for London and surrounding areas in an attempt to slow the spread of a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus.

The new restrictions see travel severely limited and shops closed. Previous plans to allow households to mix for five days over Christmas have been cancelled entirely for the affected region, while, in the rest of England, just one day of mixing will be allowed.

“It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” Johnson told a news conference. “I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me.”

The United Kingdom's other nations also took action. Scotland has imposed a travel ban to the rest of the UK, and Christmas easing limited to just the 25th. Wales has also joined London in the highest level of restrictions - but two households will be allowed to meet on Christmas Day. Northern Ireland had already announced a lockdown from 26 December.

3. Countries ban travel from UK over new variant

The emergence of a new, highly transmissible variant of the virus has seen countries restrict travel from the UK to prevent it spreading.

The Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria, France and Ireland are all among European nations that have announced restrictions on UK residents.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss international travel - with the flow of freight a particular concern.

The World Health Organization say they are working together with the UK over the emergence of the new variant.

“We are in close contact with UK officials. They will continue to share information and results of their analysis and ongoing research. We will update the public and member states as we learn more, and have a clearer picture of the characteristics of this variant,” the WHO said.