Coronavirus Global Update

The UK becomes the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine which targets both the original and Omicron variants of the virus. Also: Covid infection numbers surge in the Marshall Islands, Moderna announces its first vaccine facility in the Southern Hemisphere, and a date is set for schools to re-open in Shanghai.

Queues form outside hundreds of testing centres in the city's Chaoyang district. Also: the Peruvian government is urged to help poorer families affected by Covid, and the Indian politician Sonia Gandhi is being treated for Covid-19 in hospital.

Sixty-six people are said have died, nine days after the outbreak was first acknowledged. Meanwhile, President Biden says the US has offered Covid vaccines to Pyongyang but has received no response. Also: China orders thousands of Beijing residents to relocate to quarantine hotels despite testing negative and Easter Island reopens to tourists.

State media says North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un strongly criticized healthcare officials for what he called a botched response to epidemic prevention, as cases soar to more than a million.Also China's weakening economy is blamed on lockdowns.

Wearing a mask on flights and in airports in Europe will no longer be mandatory. Also: Shanghai gradually eases its lockdown restrictions, and Denmark suspends its general immunisation programme.

Kim Jong-Un said it was a "great disaster" for the country. Also: China pulls out as host of the Asian Cup football finals next year, and New Zealand's prime minister tests positive for Covid-19.

President Biden says the US must remain vigilant against the pandemic. Also: A former British prime minister calls on rich countries to do more to increase funding for global vaccinations, tests and treatments, and North Korea orders a nationwide lockdown to contain a rise in cases.

The World Health Organisation says nearly 15 million people have died because of the coronavirus pandemic since 2020. Also, more cities across China look to ease restrictions as Covid cases fall, and health bosses in England urge hospitals to tempt retired employees back to work.

Chinese capital is looking to avoid the fate of Shanghai, which is under strict lockdown. Also; a planned ban on night-time prayers in mosques in Egypt during Ramadan has been dropped.

China imposes lockdown measures on a whole province amid rising cases. Also, Germany records a seven day high of infections, and Britain decides to remove all travel restrictions later this week.

Also: New data indicates the total number of deaths may be three times higher than records show; what lessons have we learnt from this pandemic to help prevent new outbreaks and meeting the scientists developing the vaccines of the future.

Second WHO vaccine hub for poorer countries. Also, South Korea approves Covid jabs to children, and Poland is to remove most of its Covid restrictions from the first of March.

The territory is also launching a vaccine passport from Thursday. Also; Canada's parliament backs emergency powers for the government, and Queen Elizabeth cancels virtual engagements because of mild Covid symptoms.

Tourists return to the country for first time since lockdowns were imposed. Also: The UK government sets out plans to scrap all COVID-19 restrictions in England and Novak Djokovic returns to tennis after being prevented from playing at the Australian Open for refusing to be vaccinated.

Buckingham Palace says she's experiencing 'mild cold-like symptoms'. Also: England is set to drop the legal requirement for people to self-isolate, and the streets around the parliament building in the Canadian capital are finally quiet after weeks of protests.

Vehicles have been towed away and demonstrators handcuffed. Also: plans for mass testing in Hong Kong, and restaurants and shops in Switzerland are hoping for more customers after almost all restrictions were lifted.

The countries should be able to replicate Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna jabs. Also, Hong Kong struggles with a surge in cases; and Japan lifts tough border restrictions.

A reward is offered for three people after cases were discovered among their group. Also, Germany, Israel and the Netherlands press ahead with easing restrictions, and nightclubbers in France may have sore heads this morning after discos reopen.

The Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Hong Kong to take "all necessary measures" to curb the soaring number of cases. Also: Moderna seeks volunteers for its Omicron booster vaccine; and South Korean boy band BTS finally returns to the stage in Seoul.

Novak Djokovic has said he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a Covid vaccine. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, he said he should not be associated with the anti-vax movement, but supported an individual's right to choose.