• WHO warns of the convergence of the Delta and Omicron variants, as daily global cases continue to break records. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said “Delta and Omicron are now twin threats driving up cases to record numbers, leading to spikes in hospitalization and deaths,”, said at a news conference in Geneva. “I am highly concerned that Omicron, being highly transmissible and spreading at the same time as Delta, is leading to a tsunami of cases.” Source
• Coronavirus cases in the US surpass 53 million. Source
• The Omicron variant has been detected in 25 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean. In Argentina, where 72 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, a holiday surge has brought a positivity rate of 30 percent and a daily total of 33,902 new cases. Source
• New Zealand reports its first case of locally transmitted Omicron. Source
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of presiding over a “total shambles” as the country faces shortages in rapid antigen tests amidst a huge surge in demand. Key workers, including nurses and firefighters, have unable to access tests to allow them to do their jobs. Source
• France broke a national – and European – record for daily coronavirus cases, reaching 208,000. Source
• Daily coronavirus cases in the US, driven by the Delta and Omicron variants, reach a record-breaking total of 488,000. Source
• In Russia, 87,527 people died from COVID-19 in November. Vera Karpova, a demographer at Moscow State University, reports that the pandemic has shortened life expectancy by three years, noting that “The last time life expectancy was 70 was in 2012.” Source
• Johnson and Johnson issues a press release to announce preliminary results from its 227,310-person Sisonke 2 Booster Shot Study in South African Healthcare Workers, who were given a booster nine months after receiving the single-dose vaccine. The booster, which was given as the Omicron variant became dominant, was 85 percent effective against hospitalization. Source
• The UK National Health Service announces that it is creating temporary field hospitals on the grounds of eight hospitals, as of this week, saying “These Nightingale hubs will improve NHS resilience if the record number of COVID-19 infections leads to a surge in admissions and outstrips existing capacity. Placing the new Nightingale facilities in hospital grounds will make it easier to flex staff and equipment if there is a surge in admissions, providing access to diagnostics and emergency care if required.” Source