The US death toll from Covid-19 hit a new daily record of nearly 4,500, Johns Hopkins University has said.
As the health crisis rages out of control in the US, this was the first time the toll in the country hardest hit by the pandemic surpassed 4,000 in 24 hours.
The US recorded more than 235,000 new cases of coronavirus infection and 4,470 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins tally as of 8.30pm (1.30am Irish time).
Around 131,000 people are now hospitalised in the US with Covid-19, said the Covid Tracking Project.
The weekly average of fatalities is at its highest level since the pandemic started, it said.
Faced with these grim numbers and the presence of the new, more contagious Covid variant, authorities announced that people wishing to fly to the US must show proof of a negative Covid test prior to departure. 
The country, where health restrictions vary drastically between states and compliance can be spotty, is ultimately counting on a massive vaccination campaign begun in mid-December to bring the health crisis to an end.
But the effort is running behind, with just 9.3m people having received the first of two injections of the two vaccines authorized in America.
The nation with the world’s largest economy has now recorded 22.8 million coronavirus cases and more than 380,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Japan to expand virus emergency to seven more regions
Japan is set to expand a coronavirus state of emergency to seven more regions including the major cities of Osaka and Kyoto, as infections surge nationwide.
While the country’s outbreak remains comparatively small, with around 4,100 deaths overall, there has been a sharp spike in cases this winter and medics say hospitals are under heavy strain in the worst-affected areas.
The month-long emergency measure, which unlike strict lockdowns elsewhere in the world carries no enforcement mechanism, was implemented in the greater Tokyo area last week.
It asks restaurants and bars to close by 8pm, with residents requested to avoid unnecessary outings and telework strongly encouraged.
“We want to have a declining trend in infections by February 7, by all means,” said Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of Japan’s pandemic response, referring to the period’s planned end date.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to announce further measures
The move, expected to be announced by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga this evening, means that, from tomorrow, 11 of the country’s 47 prefectures will be under the state of emergency.
That accounts for about 60% of its GDP.
It comes just over six months before the virus-postponed Tokyo Olympics are due to open.
Mr Suga has insisted he is committed to holding the Games this summer, despite polls showing widespread public opposition.
Chinese province declares ’emergency’ to control virus
A Chinese province of more than 37m people has declared an “emergency state” to snuff out a handful of Covid-19 cases, as the country moved decisively to contain infections.
China had largely brought the coronavirus under control since its emergence in Wuhan late in 2019.
But recent weeks have seen smatterings of cases, prompting localised lockdowns, immediate travel restrictions and widespread testing of tens of millions of people.
More than 20m are now under some form of lockdown in the country’s northern regions.
A medical worker conducts a nucleic acid test on a resident at a community centre in Qiqihar in Heilongjiang province
Today, the government of northeastern Heilongjiang, with a population of 37.5m, declared an “emergency state”, telling residents not to leave the province unless absolutely necessary, and to cancel conferences and gatherings.
That was in response to finding 28 Covid-19 cases, including 12 that were asymptomatic.
Three infections were found in the provincial capital Harbin, which is hosting a famous ice sculpture festival that is usually a big draw for tourists.
More than 350 workers of the rapidly set-up mobile, inflatable Huoyan labs are running against time to complete the second round of citywide COVID-19 tests in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China’s Hebei Province. pic.twitter.com/Jj2f1GhiMA
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 13, 2021
The festival, featuring glittering ice palaces and fantastical scenes, has drawn millions over the years to one of China’s coldest cities, where temperatures are set to dip to -30C over the next few days.
Suihua city, a short car journey north and home to more than 5.2 million people, was sealed off on Monday after reporting one confirmed case and 45 asymptomatic cases.
Several other small cities near Suihua were also sealed off or placed under travel restrictions, authorities said.