On New Year's Day, Pope Francis livestreams his message from the library of the Apostolic Palace. He states "the Virgin Mary’s motherly care encourages us to use our God-given time for building up the world and peace, not destroying it." In the Catholic Church, January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. (Catholic News Agency)
Turkey reports its first 15 cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in people who traveled from the United Kingdom and later tested positive for COVID-19. (Daily Sabah)
Turkey bans all travelers from the United Kingdom due to the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom. (AP)
France announces it will tighten curfews in 15 departments beginning tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. local time in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (France 24)
Israel becomes the first country to vaccinate at least 10% of its population against COVID-19, with around 950,000 doses already administered. (The Jerusalem Post)
The Philippines includes the United States in its travel ban of countries and territories reported to have new variants of SARS-CoV-2, which comes into effect on January 3. The move comes after the United States reported its first case of a new variant from the United Kingdom on December 30. (Xinhua)
The SingaporeanMinistry of Health announces that long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who had travel history to South Africa over the past 14 days will be not allowed to enter Singapore starting January 4, due to reports of a more contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the country. (Hindustan Times)
Bangkok will close all schools, daycare centers for both children and seniors, preschools and tutoring centers from January 4 to 17. Other public facilities will be closed beginning January 2. This comes as the authorities tighten measures to reduce the spread of a new wave of COVID-19. (CNA)
ChadianPresidentIdriss Déby signs a decree that imposes a lockdown in the country's capital N'Djamena for the first time since the pandemic began and also declares a dusk-to-dawn curfew due to a rise in the number of cases. (Reuters)
On December 31 and into the early hours of January 1, protesters and police clashed in a New Year's Eve protest which police declared a riot shortly before midnight, alleging the demonstrators' use of violence. Within 30 minutes, police advanced on the demonstration, protesters used fireworks while officers shot pepper balls, rubber bullets, and other "less-lethal munitions". In the wake of the protests, the Portland Police Bureau order all people in the area to leave immediately. Authorities have not stated the number of protesters arrested. (The Hill)