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| - Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: Britain becomes the first Western country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, announcing a rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab from next week. Health Secretary Matt Hancock claims Brexit helped it push approval through faster than the EU, which is likely to give the green light later this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin tells health officials to start widespread vaccinations next week, adding that Russia has produced close to two million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine. Teachers and medics will be the first to receive the jab, which will be free to all Russian citizens. The cumulative total of Covid-19 cases surged by nearly 30 percent, or by over six million, across the Americas region in November, the Pan American Health Organization, covering North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, says. England exits a month-long lockdown, but most of Britain remains under restrictions as a new regional system for cutting infection rates kicks in. With European countries at odds over whether to allow skiing over Christmas, Austria's government announces that it will be allowed again from December 24 but that hotels will remain shut over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Olympic officials issue a 54-page report outlining how they believe the Tokyo Games can go ahead, even if the pandemic is not under control by the new start date of July 2021. It involves clear rules for athletes and spectators. US scientists are working on a nasal spray that will stop infection from the virus. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the biotech firm Regeneron are testing the gene therapy on animals. US health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend shortening the quarantine period for people exposed to Covid-19, from 14 to 10 days if they haven't taken a test and have not developed symptoms. Interpol warns that organised crime groups could attempt to steal supplies of vaccines or sell their own fake ones. The virus death toll nudged closer to the 1.5 million mark, with at least 1,482,240 killed by Covid-19, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Wednesday. The US is the worst-affected country with 270,691 deaths, followed by Brazil with 173,817, India with 138,122, Mexico with 106,765 and the UK with 59,051. The coronavirus crisis "is likely to inflict massive downward pressure on wages in the near future" with women and low-paid workers bearing the brunt, the International Labour Organization says. burs-fg-jmy/lc
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