FACTBOX-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus

Even as COVID-19 cases drop and hospitalizations show signs of plateauing in hard-hit pockets of the United States, the still-rising death toll from the Omicron variant highlights the trail of loss that follows every virus surge.

Even as COVID-19 cases drop and hospitalizations show signs of plateauing in hard-hit pockets of the United States, the still-rising death toll from the Omicron variant highlights the trail of loss that follows every virus surge. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* Eikon users, see COVID-19: MacroVitals https://apac1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/cms/?navid=1592404098 for a case tracker and summary of news. AMERICAS

* The head of the World Health Organization warned that it was dangerous to assume the Omicron variant would herald the end of COVID-19's acutest phase, exhorting nations to stay focused to beat the pandemic. * COVID-19 contributed to the biggest annual reduction in life expectancy on record in Canada in 2020, Statistics Canada said in preliminary findings.

* The U.S. advised against travel to 15 countries and territories. EUROPE

* The European Union's drug regulator is set to decide whether to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 pill at the end of this month, before doing a final review of Merck's similar but less effective drug in February, a source with knowledge of the matter said. * Fully vaccinated travellers arriving in Britain will no longer have to take a COVID-19 test, while Germany extended its current pandemic measures.

* Norway will end its system of mandatory quarantines for non-vaccinated travellers and close contacts of infected persons, replacing it instead with a daily test regime. ASIA-PACIFIC

* Japan was poised to double the number of regions subject to restrictions such as shortened restaurant opening hours in order to rein in a record surge in cases. * COVID-related deaths surged in Australia and authorities warned numbers could rise further when schools return from holidays next week.

* Organisers of next month's Beijing Winter Olympics slightly eased the strict COVID-19 requirements for participants. * India's infections may rise sharply in coming weeks, some top experts said.

AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST * Israel's health minister said he did not think Israel will offer a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to most people after the government made it available to over 60s and other high-risk groups.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS * Omicron can survive longer than earlier versions of the coronavirus on plastic surfaces and human skin, Japanese researchers found in laboratory tests.

* A third booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson increases antibody levels significantly in those who have previously received two doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac shot, a study has found. * British scientists will begin testing Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics' antiviral pill molnupiravir as a possible treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is likely to restrict the use of COVID-19 antibody treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly as they are ineffective against Omicron, the Washington Post reported. ECONOMIC IMPACT

* The selloff on Wall Street worsened and oil prices turned lower as rising geopolitical tensions and the Fed's plans to reduce economic stimulus took their toll on investors. * The economies in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council will grow at their fastest paces in several years, according to a Reuters poll of economists.

(Compiled by Devika Syamnath and Sarah Morland; Edited by Milla Nissi and Sriraj Kalluvila)