Officials in Japan have asked China to stop carrying out anal swab tests on Japanese citizens who enter the country, saying people have complained that it caused them "psychological distress".
China started carrying out anal swabs for Covid in January. The tests involve inserting a cotton swab 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) into the anus and gently rotating it.
About 26,000 police officers and 3,800 soldiers have been deployed in the Czech Republic to enforce new lockdown measures.
The country is currently seeing the worst Covid surge in the world, with the highest per capita infection rate over the last week.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has spoken with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about possibly purchasing China's Covid-19 vaccines.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has fired the country's special Covid-19 commissioner, Domenico Arcuri.
African countries have started mass Covid inoculation drives using vaccines supplied through a scheme set up to share doses fairly with poorer nations.
Hong Kong has today recorded its 200th Covid-19 death.
More than 11,000 people have been affected by the virus in the city of 7.4m.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is going to ask US President Joe Biden to share some of the US's Covid vaccine supply when they meet at a virtual summit later today, according to Reuters news agency.
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