France, Italy, and Ireland report record highs as global cases rise; Israel orders 100,000 anti-viral pills

December 25, 2021, marked a grim milestone as France, Italy, and Ireland all reported record daily highs in Covid-19 cases, driven largely by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. In France, daily cases soared to unprecedented levels, followed by Italy which also saw its third consecutive record-breaking day of infections. Ireland, too, reported its highest-ever number of daily Covid cases on Christmas Day, adding to the growing pressure on health systems across Europe.

In Australia, New South Wales recorded its highest-ever daily case count, surpassing 6,000 new infections, as the virus continued to spread uncontrollably. Other Australian states, including Victoria and Queensland, also faced rising numbers, with authorities warning that the virus was widespread. Despite this, the health minister for New South Wales noted that “we’re all going to get Omicron,” signaling a shift in public outlook on the virus.

Meanwhile, Israel has taken swift action to curb the Omicron surge by ordering 100,000 anti-viral pills to be distributed across the country. This decision follows increasing concerns about the virus’s rapid transmission.

In China, the government is working urgently to contain outbreaks in several regions, while the ongoing disruptions to international travel continue as more than 4,500 flights were canceled globally during the holiday period, causing chaos for many passengers.