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• The **vaccine invented by OxfordUniversity and developed with AstraZeneca was 90 percent effective in preventing the virus **when it was administered as a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart,according to data from trials in the UK and Brazil.
• AstraZeneca's executive vice president, Mene Pangalos, has saidimmunizations could begin in December if regulators give its vaccine the go-ahead.
• Spain is to begin acomprehensivevaccinationprogram in Januarywith"a very substantial part of the population" inoculated in the first six months, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
• From Monday, Spain will require all international arrivals from high-risk countries to have a negative test 72 hours before they enter the country.
• The leaders of the 20 biggest economies in theworld pledged to"spare no effort" to ensure the fairdistribution of vaccines worldwide during a virtual G20 summit on Sunday.
• **The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has confirmed it will recommend the use of Vitamin D **as apotentially effective way to prevent and treat the virus.
• Italy has reported 562 deaths in the past 24 hours , down from 692 on Saturday, bringing the nationwide toll to49,823.
• Many of Germany's 16 federal states are infavor of extending a partial lockdown to slow the spread of the virus and make familygatherings over Christmas possible,Manuela Schwesig, premier of the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, said.
• **Strict measures to prevent the virus spreading must still betaken for the next "four or five months" **untilenoughpeople have taken a vaccine to achieve some kind of immunity,accordingtoMichael Tildesley,a UK government scientific adviser.
• The UK government is expected to ease isolation requirements for those who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive, meaning they will no longer be required to self-isolate.
• Germany maybegin its vaccine program in December, the country's health minister Jens Spahn revealed.
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WHY COVID-19'S MAKING SO MANY OF US WANT TO MOVE TO THE COUNTRY
00:20
ACROSS EUROPE
Stefan de Vries in Amsterdam
The pandemic has had a positive effect on the congestion problem in the Netherlands, one of the most densely populated countries in the World. Traffic jams seem to have disappeared now people are working much more often from home.
In recent years, the number of cars and traffic jams on Dutch roads has risen sharply. But since the first lockdown, they have almost disappeared.
The Dutch Army told the government this summer that it contributed to the spread of conspiracy theories because of the messy communication strategy around the coronavirus crisis.
The army analysis was revealed on Monday by newspaper
NRC
. It criticized the government's ambiguity "about official policy" including the use of face masks. The army advised "clearer communication" and "more transparency" about the coronavirus measures.
Health Authority RIVM reported 5,407 new positive coronavirus tests on Sunday, an improvement on Friday and Saturday when there were around 6,000 new cases.
Trent Murray in Frankfurt
Germany's Robert Koch Institute's latest data indicate there have been 10,864 new cases of the coronavirus recorded. It's the second-lowest number posted since the new partial lockdown began at the beginning of the month.
The numbers are generally lower on a Monday, because some states are slow to release data over the weekend, however, the latest figures will be welcome news to health experts, who are closely monitoring the situation.
The update comes as Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with other world leaders over the weekend at the virtual G20 summit. She noted the encouraging news of vaccine trials showing promising results, however, she said more work needs to be done to ensure poorer countries get their fair share of vaccine deliveries.
"I am a bit concerned that nothing has been done yet. It is not enough just to have money in the bank. Something actually has to be done for developing countries," she said.
Jemima Walker in London
The coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca stops 70 percent of people developing symptoms of the virus. Data from the large-scale trial also showed that people who were given a low dose of the vaccine followed by a high dose showed up to 90 percent protection.
The news has been welcomed by the UK government and the scientific community, although there may be some disappointment after vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95 percent effectiveness. However, the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine may be easier to distribute because it is stored at a higher temperature.
Also on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil plans for when lockdown ends on December 2. He's expected to announce that England will return to a three-tier system and that gyms and retail will be allowed to reopen.
He's also expected to announce that mass testing will be rolled out in all "tier three" areas, which are experiencing the highest level of coronavirus cases. Mass testing will also be rolled out in care homes, which will allow people to visit their relatives.
The UK's AstraZeneca vaccine was 90% effective in preventing the virus when it was administered as a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart. /Reuters
Toni Waterman in Brussels
People who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, but are not experiencing symptoms can once again get tested for coronavirus starting Monday. The testing of asymptomatic people was put on hold late last month as the number of new infections skyrocketed across Belgium and testing facilities and labs became overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, the number of new infections continues to fall with an average of 3,672 new cases in the past week compared with the previous one. Average daily deaths are also on the decline, with 170 recorded a day in the past week.
Ross Cullen in Paris
France's president is going to set out a three-stage loosening of restrictions if the health situation allows, as France enters the final week of its second national lockdown. Emmanuel Macron will make his latest address to the nation on Tuesday evening. He is reported to be considering allowing non-essential shops, such as clothes stores and florists, to reopen this coming weekend.
The attestation, a government document that you need to fill in every time you leave your house, will be suspended for a week for the Christmas holidays. But bars and restaurants will remain closed throughout the holidays and into January. On Sunday, the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 dropped for fifth day in a row, to 31,365.
Rahul Pathak in Madrid
From Monday, Spain will require all international arrivals from high-risk countries to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before they enter.
Passengers will still have temperature checks at the airport and if they show symptoms they may be required to take an additional test.
According to Spain's health ministry, the rules apply to European Union countries and those in the Schengen free-movement area,
Whether or not a country falls into the high-risk category will be determined by theirrate of coronavirus infection per 1,000 inhabitants, over the previous 14 days.
Linda Kennedy in Budapest
Another 1 million favipiravir tablets have arrived in Hungary, this time from Japan, to help patients treated in hospital for COVID-19 to recover, said Hungary's foreign minister.
The arrival of the tablets comes as Hungary's National Chief Medical Officer said the virus is "ubiquitous" in the country, with "90 percent of settlements" affected. Over the past 24 hours, a further 4,320 infections were recorded.
Regarding the Russian vaccine, which arrived in Hungary last week, the National Chief Medical Officer said Hungary has a "thorough and strict set of conditions" for the vaccine to be on the market. The Russian vaccine is currently undergoing a "review of documentation."
From Monday, people arriving into Spain from high-risk countries must have a negative test 72 hours before entry into the country. /AP
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