OVERVIEW: on worldwide spread of the coronavirus

Factbox: Latest on worldwide spread of the coronavirus Australia's Queensland lifted most border curbs and reports said China has provided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an experimental vaccine, while the U.S. coronavirus adviser resigned on Monday following months-long clashes with members of his task force. Reuters Staff U.S.

(Reuters) - Australia’s Queensland lifted most border curbs and reports said China has provided North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an experimental vaccine, while the U.S. coronavirus adviser resigned on Monday following months-long clashes with members of his task force.

France recorded 4,005 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, the smallest rise since August, even as hospitalizations remained high.

* Infections have fallen by 30% during England’s month-long national lockdown, and the virus is now in retreat, a large-scale study of more than 100,000 volunteers showed.

* British minister Robert Jenrick said he was relaxing rules to allow shops to stay open for longer over Christmas and in January.

* California’s governor said he may renew a stay-at-home order in the coming days, while families of 15 public school students sued the state, claiming it has failed to provide equal education to poor and minority children during the pandemic.

* The head of the World Health Organization said Mexico is in “bad shape” as infections and deaths surge, while the Mexican government forecast the pandemic would likely continue worsening until January.

* Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam again urged residents to stay at home and avoid unnecessary family gatherings.

* Japan is loosening regulations on part-time work for foreigners stuck in the country and having trouble supporting themselves. ...

* Turkey will impose a weekday curfew and a full lockdown at weekends, as the death toll hits a record high for an eighth consecutive day. ...

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