Overview: Worldwide coronavirus developments

Factbox-Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus Tighter restrictions were imposed in London as COVID-19 infections surged, while Canada and the United States started the vaccine roll-out, offering some relief as the U.S. death toll crossed the grim milestone of 300,000. Reuters Staff U.S.

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(Reuters) -Tighter restrictions were imposed in London as COVID-19 infections surged, while Canada and the United States started the vaccine roll-out, offering some relief as the U.S. death toll crossed the grim milestone of 300,000.

* The European Union could donate 5% of the COVID-19 vaccines it has secured to poorer nations, an internal document showed.

* Italy is considering more stringent nationwide restrictions during the Christmas holidays, the health minister said.

* The Netherlands will go into a tough second lockdown, with the closure of all schools and shops for at least five weeks.

* Czech restaurants, hotels and indoor sports venues, which reopened from a lockdown only two weeks ago, must shut again from Friday in response to a new rise in infections.

* Sweden, known for its soft-touch response to the pandemic, was close to an all-time high for the number of patients being treated in hospital, according to official figures.

* Poland faces a real threat of a third wave of the pandemic, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said.

* Mexico’s government urged pharmaceutical companies to honor obligations to deliver vaccines on time, as an official expressed concern that U.S. efforts to corner initial supplies for its population might cause delays.

* Singapore became the first Asian country to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine and said it expects to start receiving shots by the end of the year.

* President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will impose a five-day full lockdown beginning on Dec. 31.

* South Africa imposed further restrictions as it looks to slow a sharp rise in infections.  ...