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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: The European Union's 27 member countries want to start vaccinations on "the same day" as pressure mounts on the bloc to catch up with the United States and Britain. More than 137,000 people in Britain have received a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine in the week since inoculations began, the government announces. Germany registers a record number of deaths on the first day of a new partial lockdown. The World Health Organization in Europe urges families to wear face masks during forthcoming Christmas family gatherings, warning of a "further resurgence" of Covid-19 in early 2021. London closes theatres, pubs and restaurants and bans people from socialising with anyone not from their household or support bubble, except outside in groups of no more than six. Denmark closes malls and shops from Friday December 25 at the latest to January 3. Food shops and pharmacies will be exempt. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resists calls to tighten coronavirus restrictions over Christmas. The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1,636,687 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Wednesday. The US is the worst-affected country with 303,867 deaths, followed by Brazil with 182,799, India with 144,096, Mexico with 115,099 and Italy with 65,857. The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean slashes its projection for the region's economic growth fall for 2020 from 9.1 to 7.7 percent. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tests negative, but goes into quarantine after being exposed to a person who has tested positive for Covid-19. British cigarette maker BAT says its US biotech division Kentucky BioProcessing will launch trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine, developed using tobacco plant technology. United Airlines announces a voluntary programme to collect customer contact data on all flights to assist health officials in contact tracing in the effort to contain Covid-19. Titleholders Exeter's European Champions Cup clash with Toulouse on Sunday is cancelled after several players and staff tested positive for coronavirus. burs-nrh-jmy/wai
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