DEATHS AND INFECTIONS
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EUROPE
* Czechia, battling the world's worst COVID-19 surge, has deployed more police and soldiers to enforce new lockdown measures.
* France's overnight curfew and other restrictive measures, such as the closure of bars, restaurants and museums, will be set at a "minimum" for the next four to six weeks.
* French authorities say the number of people being treated in intensive care units is up by 52, at 3544, going above the 3500 threshold for the first time since December 1.
* A total of 20.3 million people in the UK have received their first dose of vaccine.
* Nearly two thirds of Russians are not willing to receive the Sputnik V vaccine, and about the same believe coronavirus was created artificially as a biological weapon, a poll shows.
* Prime Minister Mario Draghi has fired Italy's COVID-19 commissioner and replaced him with an army logistics expert to speed up vaccinations.
ASIA-PACIFIC
* Some local communities in Beijing have started vaccinating people older than 60, even as the city's disease-control authorities publicly advise this age group against inoculation.
* Uzbekistan's government has approved a vaccine developed by China's Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical for use.
AMERICAS
* The Biden administration has downplayed the prospect of sharing vaccines with Mexico, saying it is focused first on getting its own population protected against a pandemic that has killed more than 500,000 Americans.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
* Israel is to discuss the possibility of a vaccine venture with Austria and Denmark.
* Israel is looking to buy 36 million more vaccine doses in case booster shots are needed later in the year.
* China will donate 50,000 shots of its Sinopharm vaccine to crisis-hit Lebanon.
MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS
* A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel has voted unanimously to recommend Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 shot.
* The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has started shipping and its top executive says Americans should be able to receive the single-dose shot within the next 24 to 48 hours.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
* Chile's economic activity fell 3.1 per cent in January from the same month last year, as a rebound in cases dragged on services and manufacturing.
* Global equities rose and the S&P 500 on Monday was headed for its best day since June 5, with investors taking lower US bond yields in stride as a sweeping coronavirus relief bill and distribution of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine spurred enthusiasm.
Australian Associated Press
