December 18, 2020 (2020-12-18) (Friday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
Disasters and accidents
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
- Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announces that the country will impose a third nationwide lockdown beginning on December 26. However, people who take part in mass testing programmes between January 15 and 17 and test negative will be allowed to enter shops and restaurants beginning on January 18. (Barron's)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy
- Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announces a second nationwide "red zone" lockdown from December 24–27, December 31–January 3, and January 5–6. On those days, people will only be allowed to travel for work, health or emergency reasons. An "orange zone", where shops are allowed to open, will be in effect from December 28–30 and on January 4. However, all bars and restaurants will remain closed during the holiday season. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi
- COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Germany reports a record 33,777 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,439,938. (Bild)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, COVID-19 vaccine
- COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden
- Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announces new measures to reduce the second wave of the pandemic. All non-essential public services will close until January 24, alcohol sales will be banned after 8:00 p.m. local time, and the number of people at restaurants will be limited to four per table. It also recommended to use face masks on public transport at certain times. (The Local Sweden)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland
- The Swiss government announces that restaurants, bars and sports and leisure centres, as well as libraries, museums and other cultural institutions will close on December 22 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as the total numbers of cases and deaths surpass 400,000 and 6,000 respectively. (Swiss Info)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
- COVID-19 pandemic in Panama
- Starting from December 21, Panama will reimpose nationwide restrictions by require men and women to carry out holiday shopping on different days. On Christmas and New Year's Day there will be total lockdown for all genders. (The Straits Times)
Law and crime
Politics and elections
Science and technology