Summary:

First US patients vaccinated

London enters tier 3 restrictions

Netherlands follows Germany into hard lockdown

US average deaths near 2.5K/day

Italian government warns of new restrictions to come

NJ cases top 400K

Singapore approves Pfizer vaccine

Netanyahu enters quarantine after COVID exposure

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Update (0945ET): It's official: Just as Mayor Sadiq Khan warned, London's COVID alert level has been raised to a "Tier 3", the highest of the system of tiers and restrictions established by Boris Johnson. Or at least that's what Health Secretary Matt Hancock has just told Parliament.

The new restrictions take effect on Wednesday.

We're sensing the issue of who will follow Germany into lockdown will be the big theme of the day.

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The big news out of Europe Monday morning is that the Netherlands is following Germany into a "hard" holiday lockdown that will start this week and last at least until mid-January. Across the country, schools, non-essential shops and museums will all be closed from midnight on Tuesday, according to the local press.