Here are the latest developments related to the spread of the coronavirus in the world in light of the latest numbers, new measures and facts:

- European scrutiny of Merck's anti-Covid drug accelerated -

The European Medicines Agency announced on Monday the launch of the accelerated audit of the anti-Covid-19 drug manufactured by the American Merck Laboratory, which is an easy-to-administer treatment that may become an important tool in the fight against the epidemic as a complement to vaccines.

"The European Medicines Agency's Committee on Medicines for Human Use has launched an ongoing evaluation of the antiviral drug molnopiravir that Merck is developing for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults," the Amsterdam-based European agency said.

- Moderna announces positive results of its vaccine in children between 6 and 11 years -

Moderna on Monday announced positive results for its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6-11, data that the company intends to provide to global drug regulators "in the near term" for the purpose of obtaining a license.

The company said in a statement that clinical trials conducted on more than 4,700 participants "show a strong immune response in this group of children a month after they took the second dose,"  with monitoring of "high" antibody levels.

- China imposes lockdown ahead of Olympics -

On Monday, the Chinese authorities imposed a closure that included tens of thousands of people in the north of the country, and called on residents of the capital to limit their movements due to the return of infections with the coronavirus, a hundred days before the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

China recorded 39 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, and more than 100 cases during the past week. Most of these cases are related to the movement of a group of tourists.

Immediately, the Chinese authorities responded by imposing restrictions and organizing mass screening campaigns in the relevant regions.

In Beijing, where the Winter Olympics are due to start on Feb. 4, the marathon that would have involved some 30,000 runners on October 31 has been postponed indefinitely "in order to reduce the transmission of the epidemic," according to the organizers. This came after the Wuhan Marathon was postponed.

- London allocates six billion pounds to the health sector -

British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced Sunday that he will allocate an additional 6 billion pounds to help the country's healthcare system overcome delays accumulated during the pandemic crisis, as part of the new budget.

In September, the government announced an additional EGP 5.4 billion in funding to help this agency "manage the immediate pressures of the pandemic."

"We are determined to put health services back on track and ensure that no one has to wait for important tests or treatments," Sunak said in a statement.

- Forged vaccination certificates in Russia -

Monday, the Russian authorities are investigating a group of health workers in St. Petersburg accused of selling forged vaccination certificates, at a time when the country is facing a wave of deadly infections.

According to the investigative committee, a doctor and three nurses are accused of issuing official vaccination certificates without injections, in exchange for bribes amounting to 100,000 rubles (1,220 euros).

- Financial sector curse in Hong Kong -

The Association of Securities and Financial Markets in Asia, the most prominent association of the financial sector in Hong Kong, on Monday denounced the "zero Covid" policy set by the territorial authorities, considering that the long periods of quarantine imposed on arrivals seriously damage the city's reputation in the business world.

Hong Kong has largely escaped the epidemic, with only 213 deaths and nearly 12,000 infections among its population of seven million. But this was done by imposing severe isolation and quarantine for a period of up to 21 days on any traveler, even if he or she was fully vaccinated. 

- Ed Sheeran announces he has Covid-

British pop star Ed Sheeran revealed on Sunday that he had contracted Covid-19, less than a week before the release of his highly anticipated new album.

The author and singer, who became famous thanks to the song "Shape of You" in 2017, wrote on his Instagram account, "I want to tell you briefly that, unfortunately, I have Covid and will self-isolate."

"I will not be able to personally fulfill my obligations at this time. I will try to give as many interviews and presentations as possible from my home," added the 30-year-old artist, who lives in Suffolk in eastern England.

- More than 4.9 million deaths -

The coronavirus has caused the death of at least 4,945,746 people in the world since the World Health Organization office in China reported the emergence of the disease at the end of December 2019, according to a census conducted by Agence France-Presse based on official sources Monday at 10:00 GMT.

The United States is the most affected country in terms of deaths (735,941), followed by Brazil (605,644 deaths), India (454,712), Mexico (286,346) and Russia (231,669).

The numbers are based on daily reports issued by each country's health authorities and exclude subsequent reviews by statistical agencies that indicate much higher death numbers.

The World Health Organization, taking into account the excess mortality rate directly or indirectly related to Covid-19, considers that the outcome of the epidemic may be two or three times greater than the officially announced outcome.