Thread by @FinancialTimes

Daily coronavirus thread: New Zealand reported two new cases linked to a port worker, US hospitalisations topped 39,000 for the first time since August and the UK threatened to take over TfL. Follow our live coverage: on.ft.com/3m3O3aY

Here is what the latest figures tell us about the pandemic in the UK:
✅The virus is spreading, but its pace is decreasing
✅North-west England and Northern Ireland have been hit the hardest
✅Younger people are spreading the virus to those over 60
on.ft.com/37ogoER

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s de facto flag carrier, will slash nearly a quarter of its staff and close a regional brand owing to pandemic pressure on.ft.com/3dI7nI1

China is determined that its ‘vaccine diplomacy’ will succeed where ‘mask diplomacy’ failed, bolstering ties where US influence is waning on.ft.com/3oa93yH

The White House and congressional Democrats expressed optimism on stimulus talks even as the chances of a deal before the election remained slim on.ft.com/35xKXph

China’s renminbi climbed to its highest level against the US dollar in more than two years on Thursday as investor confidence in the country’s economic recovery drove gains. Follow our live coverage here: ft.com/content/2aebe7…

Dominic Cummings, who drew public ire for flouting England’s lockdown rules, was one of the most ‘hawkish’ backers of tougher lockdown fines on.ft.com/2HmndMq

UK government borrowing rose to £246bn in the first half of the fiscal year, the highest level on record, as the pandemic hit public finances. ft.com/content/87c872…

Just in: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that a deal with the UK was ‘within reach’, but underlined that the UK must now decide whether to return to the negotiating table ft.com/content/2aebe7…

Sheffield city region in northern England has agreed to enter the highest level of coronavirus restrictions in return for £41m ft.com/content/2aebe7…