China's population fell last year for the first time in six decades, weighed down by rising living costs especially in big, sprawling urban hubs, weak economic growth, and changing attitudes towards raising a family.

Economically vital cities, including the Chinese capital Beijing, have jumped on the rising infections, demanding more PCR tests for residents and locking down neighbourhoods and even districts in some cases.

With zero-Covid lockdowns hitting major cities, some of China's richest regions are proving to be a drag on recovery, reporting slower growth than the national economy for the first three quarters, reports say.

Experts believe Covid-19 cannot be eliminated and will likely become endemic, meaning it will always be present in the population to some degree, such as the flu or chickenpox.

The variant has a spike protein that is dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that Covid-19 vaccines are based on, the UK Health Security Agency says.

From Dec 2 onwards, New Zealand will adopt a new Covid-19 response that aims to contain the highly contagious Delta variant, rather than attempting to eliminate it completely.

A survey of 6,000 people living in the US, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Japan shows the tide turning against Covid-related restrictions.

Psychologists say many have been under pressure since the start of the pandemic and need a way to release their stress.

The full effect of the pandemic lockdowns is just starting to become clear as countries take stock of their public health programmes.

Parental stress and maternal burnout lurk around the corner as mothers struggle to balance family, work and chores with little or no time at all for personal activities.

Online platforms help them overcome the problem of reluctant customers and the complexities that accompany adherence to health SOPs.

French President Emmanuel Macron says travel without authorisation will be allowed, and people will be able to spend Christmas with their families.