Overview on worldwide spread of the coronavirus --Reuters

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus The number of coronavirus infections recorded across the world passed the 90 million mark on Monday. Mexico, France and Russia confirmed the presence of the new variant first found in Britain, while China's daily tally of cases reached its highest in more than five months. Reuters Staff U.S.

(Reuters) - The number of coronavirus infections recorded across the world passed the 90 million mark on Monday. Mexico, France and Russia confirmed the presence of the new variant first found in Britain, while China’s daily tally of cases reached its highest in more than five months.

* Britain is ramping up its rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations as its top medical officer said the next few weeks will be the worst yet, with deaths and cases hitting record highs.

* Britain is concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in supermarkets, particularly when shoppers break the rules by not wearing masks.

* Spain’s government will send convoys carrying COVID-19 vaccines and food to areas hit by the heaviest snowfall in decades.

* Several thousand protesters gathered in Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday to call on the government to lift coronavirus restrictions.

* A World Health Organization (WHO) team of international experts tasked with investigating the origins of the pandemic will arrive in China on Jan. 14, Chinese authorities said.

* Japanese health officials have detected a new coronavirus variant, which differs from those found in Britain and South Africa, in four travellers from Brazil’s Amazonas state.

* China will continue to suspend flights to and from Britain and Vietnam and will limit flights bringing citizens home until the end of the Lunar New Year in mid-February.

* The Philippines has secured 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, with the first 50,000 expected to arrive in February.

* Indonesia’s food and drug agency granted emergency use approval to a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech.

* Seychelles has started vaccinating its population with doses from China’s Sinopharm vaccine, President Wavel Ramkalawan said.

* Algeria has become the first African country to register Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine for use.

* The Palestinian Authority said it expects to receive its first vaccine doses in March under a deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca.

* Israel’s coronavirus vaccination campaign, which it says is the world’s fastest per capita, shifted to booster shots on Sunday.  ...