A global death toll nearing 1.35 million and South Australia entering another lockdown are grim reminders that COVID-19 remains a deadly danger, despite rising hopes associated with two 95 percent-effective vaccines scheduled for release next year.

Approaching the first anniversary of the virus’ reported spread to humans from bats in a wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, there are still no signs of effective containment in many countries, with a horror show of renewed lockdowns across Europe, and soaring infection rates in the US and South America.