Thank you for reading along. Here's what we've learnt today:

• Australia reported its second straight day without any COVID-19 deaths on Friday, the longest stretch without any fatalities from the virus in three months.

• The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has claimed there is no conclusive evidence to prove the state's deadly second coronavirus wave stemmed from hotel quarantine.

• China, which has four coronavirus vaccine candidates in stage 3 clinical trials, said Friday it is joining the COVID-19 vaccine alliance known as COVAX.

• European countries stretching from Spain to Ukraine posted record increases in coronavirus cases, underscoring growing alarm in the region as it struggles to control the pandemic.

• US President Donald Trump has been cleared by his medical team to return to public work by Saturday, just 10 days since he was diagnosed with COVID-19, but his office has refused to confirm if he has actually tested negative.