uk Covid: Essex declares major incident over virus cases A major incident has been declared in Essex amid fears the number of Covid-19 cases could overwhelm the county's health services. The Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) said growing demand was putting stress on hospitals and social care settings. In Parliament, a local MP revealed officials dealing with the outbreak have asked for military support. Essex remains in tier four and the south of the county has some of the worst-affected districts in England. ERF board member Anthony McKeever said the move was a "signal for help" being needed from central government. ontario Ontario reports 2,923 new COVID-19 cases, while Quebec reports 2,511 The two hardest-hit provinces in Canada reported new single-day high COVID-19 numbers on Wednesday, with 2,923 new cases in Ontario and 2,511 in Quebec. Health officials in Ontario also reported 19 additional deaths, bringing the provincial death toll to 4,474. Hospitalizations increased to 1,177, with 323 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. The record-high figure in Ontario on Wednesday was reported the day after the Finance Minister Rod Phillips came under fire for travelling to the Caribbean for a vacation.

us Luke Letlow: Newly elected US lawmaker, 41, dies from Covid A recently elected US lawmaker has died from Covid-19 - the first member of the US Congress to die from the disease. Republican Luke Letlow, 41, had been elected as Representative for Louisiana's 5th district and was due to be sworn in on Sunday. He announced on 18 December that he had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to hospital soon afterwards. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on the day of Letlow's funeral. "It is with heavy hearts that @FirstLadyOfLA and I offer our condolences to Congressman-elect Luke Letlow's family on his passing after a battle with Covid-19," Mr Edwards tweeted.