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Despite these numbers giving real hope of bringing the pandemic under control, COVID-19 herd immunity is not likely to happen in 2021, according to the WHO. Herd immunity occurs when enough people are immune to an infection so that it prevents the spreading of the disease. Until then, mitigation measures such as face masks, lockdowns, and social distancing measures, among others, will be necessary. According to recent statistics by Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 global death toll surpassed 2 million. The first million people died within the first eight months of the pandemic, but it took less than four months to reach the next million. 
 
France has adopted a 6 pm nationwide curfew for at least 15 days, in order to contain the spread of the COVID-19, as well as its new strains. In addition to this, France tightened border controls for non-EU citizens, which, from January 18, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before their arrival.
 
China declared a state of emergency in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, in order to curb down the spike of new cases. Previously, China locked down the cities of Xingtai and Shijiazhuang, as the number of daily new coronavirus cases had doubled in China on January 10. Both cities have finished carrying out mass testing of all 13 million residents.
 
US president-elect Joe Biden has announced a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package aimed at reviving the US economy. The package includes a series of measures such as stimulus payment checks for individuals, $160 billion for COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and about $440 billion for small businesses and communities particularly hit by the pandemic, among others.

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