• India grants emergency use authorization for two coronavirus vaccines, one from Oxford/AstraZeneca, produced by the Serum Institute under the name of Covishield, and a locally developed vaccine, called Covaxin, from Bharat Biotech, which is still in phase III. Source
• Globally, over 12 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered. Source
• South African medical and academic leaders call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to “wield the axe” and fire government officials over delays in procuring coronavirus vaccines, saying that “ this lack of foresight will visit on us the consequences of the greatest man-made failure to protect the population since the AIDS pandemic, when we refused to provide life-saving out of choice and against the pleas of horrified medical and humanitarian agencies here and abroad and directly caused the deaths of hundreds and thousands of people.” Source
• Turkey becomes the 33rd country (after Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates – and Taiwan) to report cases of the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7. Source
• Zimbabwe orders a 30-day lockdown as coronavirus cases increase. Source
• In Bangkok, Thailand, an increase in cases leads the government to close playgrounds, flea markets, massage parlors and internet cafes and schools until January 17; the Metropolitan Administration may also limit restaurants to take out. Source
