A COVID-19 patient being transferred by helicopter in Para, Brazil on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Brunei has lifted social distancing restrictions and allowed a new normal phase for important social activities, like crowd gatherings, from Monday.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have been injected with the first COVID-19 vaccine doses. Mr. Buhari on Twitter urged Nigerian people to be vaccinated.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the President’s economic assistant Maxim Oreshkin has tested positive for COVID-19. The government is carrying out a massive COVID-19 vaccination program. President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that about 4 million Russian people have been vaccinated.

Finnish Justice Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson said Saturday that Finland’s localities’ council election will be delayed from April to June because of the increasing COVID-19 infections.