Coronavirus latest: South Korea daily infections hit 2nd highest

Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the new coronavirus that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Global cases have reached 77,916,995, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 1,714,550.

To see how the disease has spread, view our virus tracker charts:

Wednesday, Dec. 23 (Tokyo time)

9:58 a.m. The Philippines becomes the latest country to ban flights from the U.K. to prevent spread of a coronavirus variant. The restriction will be in effect from Dec. 24 to Dec. 31. All passengers who have been in the U.K within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines — including those in transit — are restricted from entering the Philippines during the period.

9:35 a.m. South Korea reports 1,092 new cases as of Tuesday midnight, the second-highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic. The recent surge has frustrated…