Factbox-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus

(Reuters) - Now that rich nations are sharing more shots with Africa, health officials across the continent are scrambling to overcome vaccine hesitancy and logistical problems to get the doses into arms fast enough before they expire.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

EUROPE

* Switzerland may have to impose another limited lockdown to break the momentum of rising cases that threaten to overwhelm its healthcare system, the government said.

* British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which faced mounting pressure after his Conservatives lost their poll lead and it was revealed his communications chief attended a festive gathering in Downing Street during a lockdown last year, is not planning further restrictions in England to contain the growth of the Omicron variant, his spokesman said.

* The estimated range of England's COVID-19 weekly reproduction "R" number is steady at between 0.9 and 1.1, the UK Health Security Agency said.

* Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Omicron variant was growing exponentially and would overtake Delta as the dominant strain within days.

* Cyprus has detected its first cases of the Omicron variant, its health ministry said.

* The Dutch Health Council advised the government to make it possible for children aged 5-11 to get shots.

* Across France, pharmacies say they have run short of COVID tests as cases rise and people scramble to make sure they do not risk contaminating loved ones as they meet up in the holiday season.

AMERICAS

* Cases in Canada have started to increase again, health officials said, adding the Omicron variant had the potential to spread very quickly.

* New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that starting next week, face coverings must be worn inside businesses and venues unless they have implemented a vaccine requirement.

* Dozens of U.S. Navy medics have deployed to New Mexico to treat a Delta variant-fueled surge in patients.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* India has detected 25 cases of the emergent Omicron variant and all have shown mild symptoms, the health ministry said, adding that there was no immediate plan to authorise vaccine boosters.

* Japanese researchers have developed masks that use ostrich antibodies to detect COVID-19 by glowing under ultraviolet light.

* South Korea will further cut the interval for booster vaccines for all adults from four to five months to three, officials said.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* Ghana will vaccinate returning citizens and residents upon arrival at the airport from next Monday if they have not already received shots, its health service said.

* South African scientists flagged they see no sign that the Omicron variant is causing more severe illness. The country is preparing to offer people booster doses of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, a senior health official said.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* Moderna said it would supply an additional 20 million doses of its shots to the Gavi vaccine alliance for distribution through the COVAX vaccine sharing facility in the second quarter of 2022.

* AstraZeneca said it will supply Singapore with its antibody cocktail by the end of the year.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

* U.S. stock futures indicated a higher Wall Street and oil rallied ahead of U.S. inflation data, although the mood was wary after a bumper week for many risky assets. [MKTS/GLOB]

* Oil prices were on track for their biggest weekly gain since late August, with market sentiment buoyed by easing concerns over the Omicron variant's impact on global economic growth and fuel demand.

* Norway's central bank is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate next week, a Reuters poll of economists showed.

(Compiled by Juliette Portala and Alexander Kloss ; Edited by Angus MacSwan)

FILE PHOTO: A healthcare professional prepares a dose of the Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine as high-risk workers receive the first vaccines in the state of Victoria
FILE PHOTO: A healthcare professional prepares a dose of the Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine as high-risk workers receive the first vaccines in the state of Victoria's rollout of the program, in Melbourne, Australia, February 22, 2021. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders

Medical staff members work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for COVID-19 patients at La Timone hospital in Marseille, as France is seeing an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and hospitalisations, France, December 10, 2021. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Medical staff members work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for COVID-19 patients at La Timone hospital in Marseille, as France is seeing an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and hospitalisations, France, December 10, 2021. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

FILE PHOTO: Director General of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye receives the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine during the vaccination campaign at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, Ghana March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko
FILE PHOTO: Director General of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye receives the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine during the vaccination campaign at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, Ghana March 2, 2021. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

Canada
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination clinic for children at Scarborough Health Network's Centenary Hospital in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada December 10, 2021. REUTERS/Nick Lachance

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