This article documents the chronology of the response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020, which originated in
Wuhan, China in December 2019. Some developments may become known or fully understood only in retrospect. Reporting on this pandemic began in
December 2019.
Reactions and measures in Africa
18 December
South African health authorities have reported the detection of a new COVID-19 variant known as the
501Y.V2 variant in the provinces of
Eastern Cape,
Western Cape, and
KwaZulu-Natal. This variant is similar to a British strain detected that same month, and both are considered to be more infectious than earlier strains.[1]
Canada's health regulator
Health Canada approves the use of
Pfizer–
BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, stating that the vaccine met its "stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements". The Canadian Government has purchased 20 million doses of the vaccine, with
Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau announcing that the first batch of 249,000 are scheduled to arrive that month.[4]
The United Kingdom becomes the first country to approve the
Pfizer/
BioNTech vaccine for mass immunisation.[8]
8 December
90 year old British woman Margaret Keenan becomes the first person to receive the
Pfizer/
BioNTech vaccine. 70 hospitals in the United Kingdom are preparing to
deliver the vaccine this week.[9]
14 December
German ChancellorAngela Merkel announces that Germany will enter into a "hard lockdown" during the Christmas period between 16 December 2020 and 10 January 2021 following a wave of infections and deaths. Under these new restrictions, a maximum of five people from no more than two households will be allowed to gather in homes. Between 24 and 26 December, this measure will be relaxed to allow one household to invite a maximum of four close family members from other households.[10]
British Prime MinisterBoris Johnson has cancelled the relaxation of COVID-19 rules for England, Scotland and Wales during the Christmas holiday period and reintroduced Tier Four restrictions to London and parts of south-eastern England in response to rising cases that month.[12]
21 December
Several
European Union countries including Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands have reimposed travel bans and restrictions on the United Kingdom in response to the emergence of a "more-infectious" and "out of control" COVID-19 variant.[13] Later that day, it was reported that 40 countries including several European Union member states, India, Russia, Jordan, Hong Kong, Israel, and Canada have placed travel bans on the United Kingdom.[14]
Reactions and measures in South and Southeast Asia
5 December
Malaysian Senior Minister
Ismail Sabri Yaakob has confirmed that Malaysia would allow unrestricted interstate travel across states and districts from 7 December with the exception of areas under an
Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), which will still require a police permit.[15]
Malaysian Director General of Health
Noor Hisham Abdullah has announced that the quarantine period will be reduced from two weeks to 10 days for all travellers and close contacts of COVID-19 positive patients.[17]
19 December
Malaysian
Health Minister Dr
Adham Baba confirmed that the Malaysian Government would be signing an agreement with British pharmaceutical company
AstraZeneca to purchase COVID-19 vaccines on 21 December.[18]
23 December
The Malaysian
Health Ministry confirmed that it had identified a new COVID-19 strain dubbed the “A701B” strain, which is similar to a strain found in South Africa, Australia, and the Netherlands.[19]
24 December
Malaysian Senior Minister
Ismail Sabri Yaakob confirmed that the
National Security Council would enforce the compulsory screening of all foreign workers from 1 January 2021 so that action can be taken against employers who refuse to have their workers tested.[20]
Reactions and measures in the Western Pacific
11 December
Premier of QueenslandAnnastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the state of Queensland will open its borders to New Zealand from 1 am the following day (12 December), exempting travelers from New Zealand from quarantine restrictions.[21]
New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern has announced that the New Zealand Cabinet plans to establish a quarantine free travel bubble with Australia in the first quarter of 2021.
Australian Health MinisterGreg Hunt welcomed the move, describing it as the "first step" in normalising international travel.[23][24]
17 December
New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern announced that the New Zealand Government had purchased two types of vaccines from
AstraZeneca and
Novavax for New Zealand, the Cook Islands,
Niue,
Tokelau and its Pacific partners
Samoa,
Tonga, and
Tuvalu.[25]
Queensland health authorities have imposed new border restrictions including a mandatory two-week quarantine period on anyone entering the state who had visited Sydney's Northern Beaches region.[28]
New Zealand
Immigration MinisterKris Faafoi announces a six-month extension for employer-assisted work and working holiday visa holders along with their partners and children in order to address the country's labour shortage. In addition, the New Zealand Government will suspend a 12-month stand-down period for low-paid Essential Skills visa holders working in the country for three years until January 2022.[31][32]