At least three civilians are killed and 23 others wounded in a suicide bombing in Zabul targeting the head of Zabul’s provincial council, who is among the wounded. (TOLO News)
The death toll from the massacre yesterday in Jere, Borno State, Nigeria, rises to 110, as more people are found dead and injured victims die of their wounds. It is the deadliest terrorist attack against civilians in Nigeria this year. (The Guardian)
New York City MayorBill de Blasio announces that public elementary schools will resume in-person classes tomorrow and will require students to have testing consent forms in order to return. Additionally, District 75 schools that cater to students with disabilities will reopen on December 10. (ABC News)
The Canadianfederal government extends international travel restrictions for most travellers who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people entering from the United States for "essential" reasons until January 21, 2021. (CBC)
The number of new confirmed cases in Hong Kong reaches a nearly four-month high of 115 cases. The city now has 6,239 total confirmed cases since the pandemic began. (CNA)
In response to the highest level of new infections since August, the government announces that all kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools will suspend in-person classes from December 2 until after the Christmas holidays. (South China Morning Post)(The Straits Times)
Acting Health Minister Hamad Hassan announces that the country will gradually ease restrictions beginning tomorrow in a bid to relieve its struggling economy during Christmas and New Year festivities. Restaurants will reopen at 50% capacity and the curfew will be moved from 5:00 p.m. local time to 11:00 p.m. local time. (Arab News)
Lebanon surpasses 1,000 total deaths from COVID-19. (The Daily Star)
Indonesia reports a record 6,267 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 534,266. Central Java reports the most cases of any province with 2,036 new cases. (detikNews)
South Korea decides to implement more stringent measures in the Seoul Capital Area for one week and also raise social distancing rules outside the Seoul Capital Area to Level 1.5 for two weeks beginning December 1. In the Seoul Capital Area, health authorities announce that saunas and steam-bath rooms in bathhouses will be closed for one week. The government will also ban New Year's Eve parties organized by hotels and other accommodation facilities. (Yonhap News Agency)
Health Minister Jan Blatný announces that the country will move from level 4 to level 3 of the pandemic alert system, allowing restaurants and non-essential shops to reopen beginning Thursday, but with social distancing limits for customers. The night-time curfew will also be lifted and limited sports activities can resume. (Expats.cz)
Hungary reports a record 156 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 4,672. The country also reports a record 6,819 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 211,527. (Hungary Today)
Turkey reports a record 185 new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide death toll to 13,558. Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries surpasses 400,000. (Daily Sabah)
The government signs a deal with Moderna to secure an additional two million doses of its vaccine candidate, bringing the total to seven million doses for the country. (The Daily Telegraph)
The Council of State orders the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30, saying that the measure was not proportionate to infection risks. (France 24)