COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 9 March

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 9 March

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: Guidelines change for fully vaccinated people in the US; Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine neutralizes Brazil variant in lab study; Indonesia grants emergency approval to Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.





1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 117.1 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 2.6 million.

China has launched a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travel.

Indonesia has approved the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use. More than a million doses of the vaccine arrived in the country yesterday as part of the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility.

US aviation, travel and aerospace groups have joined unions in urging the Biden administration to help establish temporary COVID-19 health credentials in an effort to boost travel.

Canada has declared a 'National Day of Observance' on 11 March to remember the country's COVID-19 victims - who number more than 22,000 - and those fighting the virus.

An evening curfew in the Netherlands will remain in