A further 35,383 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the UK.
If that figure seems higher than in recent days, it's because the figure includes some 11,000 cases from Wales over the past week that were missed due to a technical problem.
Another 532 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test were also reported on Thursday.
Over 3,600 Americans died from coronavirus complications on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The single-day death toll again broke a global record, even as vaccinations begin around the country.
Nearly 250,000 new infections were reported across the US on Wednesday.
Portugal's Prime Minister António Costa is the latest European leader to go into isolation after French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for Covid-19.
Costa, who held a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, has shown no symptoms but has taken a coronavirus test, his office said. He is "in preventive prophylactic isolation" until health officials can determine "his level of risk".
Other senior figures isolating and getting tests after coming into contact with President Macron so far include:
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
French Prime Minister Jean Castex
European Council President Charles Michel
Irish Prime Minister or Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo
French parliament speaker Richard Ferrand
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has tested negative for Covid-19, the Spanish government says.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has given a blunt TV message telling Swedes the country has failed to save lives during the pandemic. ”We have a large number who have died and that is terrible”. Sweden did not initially go into lockdown and has seen 7,802 deaths in a population of 10 million.
Spain says infections have climbed above 200 per 100,000 people because of recent public holidays and health officials are worried that Christmas will make things worse.
German health officials are planning for a vaccination campaign to start on 27 December, beginning in nursing homes. Europe’s EMA medicines agency will meet on Monday to decide whether to approve the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine. The EU aims to have vaccinations starting on the same day across all 27 member states but has not yet named the day.
A French opinion poll for news channel BFMTV suggests strong opposition to being vaccinated against Covid-19 – 49% of those surveyed saying they would not have it. Prime Minister Jean Castex has promised to explain and reassure French people in the face of “fear, doubt and suspicion”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called on Danes to have a very different New Year’s Eve than usual. She’s worried big parties will increase the spread of coronavirus. As of today all department stores will have to close and from Christmas Day to 3 January Denmark will effectively be under lockdown.
New Covid rules have come into force in Austria with overnight curfews from 20:00 to 06:00 apart from over the holiday period. During the day up to two households can meet up and masks are required in enclosed public spaces including most workplaces.
Santa Claus has resigned in the French town of Blois because of repeated insults from passers-by. Locals apparently got angry that for hygiene reasons he couldn’t take the children in his arms or give them treats.
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