COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 23 February

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 23 February

This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.

Top stories: US passes 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths; Warning on wealth gap in Europe; England's path out of lockdown.





1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 111.7 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 2.47 million.

Current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place in Philippine capital Manila until mass vaccinations start, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesperson said yesterday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a path out of lockdown for England, that will see most restrictions lifted by June.

Viet Nam has said health workers, diplomats and military personnel would be among the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines, when the country's inoculation programme starts next month.

The US House of Representatives Budget Committee has approved legislation with $1.9 trillion in new COVID-19 relief.

Indian pharmaceutical companies Bharat Biotech and Biological E. Ltd said yesterday that they could quickly rework their COVID-19 vaccines to fight new variants, once their genetic sequence is known.