How major European countries are progressing with their vaccine rollouts
From CNN s Tim Lister, Claudia Otto in Berlin, Antonia Mortensen in Milan, Saskya Vandoorne in Paris
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine supplies arrive at the Pisa International Airport in Italy, on January 12. Enrico Mattia Del Punta/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The European Union kicked off its coronavirus vaccination campaign at the end of last month, and the number of people receiving shots is increasing, though some countries are faring better than others.
Here s where Italy, Germany and France stand:
Italy has so far vaccinated 791,734 people, according to the government s vaccine administration.
Germany has given shots to 688,782 people, according to the national agency for disease control and vaccination, the Robert Koch Institute.
Americans life expectancy was on the rise before the pandemic struck
From CNN Health’s Shelby Lin Erdman
A man walks through a COVID Memorial Project installation on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC on September 22. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Life expectancy in the United States was on the rise before the coronavirus pandemic struck, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics reported Tuesday.
For the second consecutive year, Americans’ life expectancy rose in 2019, according to the report “Mortality in the United States: 2019.”
That’s despite an increase in drug overdose deaths and a record high of 2.85 million deaths, 15,633 more than the total in 2018.
Taiwan reports first locally transmitted case in more than 250 days
From CNN Beijing bureau
A volunteer speaks through a megaphone to remind people to wear a mask while walking under Christmas decorations in New Taipei City, Taiwan on December 18. Ritchie B Tongo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Taiwan reported its first locally-transmitted Covid-19 case since April on Tuesday, breaking a run of more than 250 days without one, according to figures released by the island s Health Ministry.
The ministry said the case was a woman in her 30s who had contact with another positive case, a foreign pilot, between Dec. 8 and 12.
The island of 23 million people last reported a locally transmitted case on April 12.
South Korea reports nearly 900 new Covid-19 cases as government considers tightening restrictions
From CNN s Gawon Bae in Seoul and Akanksha Sharma in Hong Kong
A medical worker takes samples from a man during a Covid-19 test at a makeshift clinic in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, Dec. 14. Ahn Young-joon/AP
South Korea recorded 880 new coronavirus cases on Monday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Of the new cases, 32 were imported. The country also recorded 13 additional virus-related deaths.
The new figures raise the country s total to 44,364 confirmed cases and 600 fatalities.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the government was now weighing up whether to introduce the highest level of coronavirus restrictions.