Overview: Europe and Asia Covid developments

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus Countries across Europe considered new curbs on movement while U.S. President Joe Biden called on military medics to support hospitals and fight the Omicron variant sweeping the world days before the second Christmas of the pandemic. Reuters Reuters

Other developments:

* The World Health Organization's European head warned countries to brace for a "significant surge" in COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads, and advised the widespread use of boosters for protection. read more

* The European Commission adopted rules that will make the EU COVID-19 certificate valid for travel nine months after the completion of the primary vaccination schedule. read more

* British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not be introducing new COVID-19 restrictions in England before Christmas. read more

* Sweden will urge all employees to work from home if possible and impose tighter rules for social distancing. read more

* Portugal ordered nightclubs and bars to close and told people to work from home for at least two weeks starting on Saturday read more

* India told state governments to be proactive and on the lookout for surges of the Omicron variant after cases nearly doubled within a week across a dozen states. read more

* Thailand will reinstate its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine for foreign visitors and scrap a quarantine waiver. read more

* The Philippines' health ministry halved the wait time for a COVID-19 vaccine booster to three months. read more  ...