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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: A nurse in New York becomes the first person in the United States to receive the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine. Canada also begins a roll-out of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, inoculating a care worker and an octogenarian first. The Netherlands is to go into the strictest lockdown since the pandemic began, with schools and non-essential shops to shut for around five weeks over Christmas. London is to move into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions from 0001 GMT Wednesday, meaning theatres as well as pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces a four-day lockdown over the New Year holidays. The Czech government reimposes an overnight curfew and closes restaurants and bars across the country for Christmas. The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1,612,297 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Monday. The US is the worst-affected country with 299,191 deaths, followed by Brazil with 181,402, India with 143,355, Mexico with 113,953 and Italy, which went into fifth place at the weekend, with 64,520. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tests negative but goes into self-isolation after coming into contact with a coronavirus patient. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU says it will choose its new leader at a congress next month that will be held online because of the pandemic. The World Health Organization announces a $5 million-fund to create programmes to help young people deal with the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Santa is immune to Covid-19, and can travel the world and hand out gifts this coming Christmas, a World Health Organization official says. burs-nrh-jmy/ach
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