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Despite growing vaccine access, January is looking grim around the globe as the coronavirus resurges and reshapes itself from Britain to Japan to California, filling hospitals and threatening livelihoods anew as governments lock down businesses and race to find solutions.

Mexico City's hospitals hold more virus patients than they ever have. Germany reported one of its highest daily death tolls to date Tuesday, and South African undertakers are struggling to keep up with virus mortalities. Even pandemic success story Thailand is fighting an unexpected wave of infections.

And as doctors face or brace for rising numbers of COVID-19 patients after end-of-year holiday gatherings, more and more countries are reporting cases of a new, more contagious virus variant that has already swept across Britain.

'We're all sick of it'

January is going to be "a tough one," Dr Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation, told The Associated Press.

"This idea that seems to be 'Ah, we're all sick of it. We want to look at something else. Oh, this doesn't apply to me' … That's got to go away. It really is all hands on deck."

While Britain rolled out a second vaccine this week and some US states are starting to give booster shots from the country's first vaccine, access to inoculations globally is sharply unequal. The supply also isn't remotely close to meeting the massive demand needed to fight a microscopic foe that has already killed over 1.85 million people.

"We're at intense pandemic in Europe, intense pandemic in the US," Harris said.

"The more you can bring the transmission down, the better chance you have of your vaccine vaccination strategy working."

England's third national lockdown

England is facing a third national lockdown that will last at least six weeks, as authorities struggle to stem a surge in COVID-19 infections that is threatening to overwhelm its hospitals.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a tough new stay-at-home order for England that takes effect at midnight Tuesday and includes shutting schools, restaurants and all nonessential shops, and won't be reviewed until at least mid-February. Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon imposed a lockdown that began Tuesday.

The two leaders said the restrictions were needed to protect the National Health Service amid the emergence of new, more contagious virus variant that has sent daily infections, hospitalisations and deaths soaring.

The NHS "is going through probably the toughest time in living memory," said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst of the King's Fund think-tank. He said some UK emergency rooms have waiting times of 12 hours and doctors were treating people lined up in ambulances outside.

READ MORE: It's lockdown No.3 for England, at least six weeks at home

Tough new measures both sides of the Atlantic

Elsewhere in Europe, Italy extended its Christmas lockdown, Spain is restricting travel and Germany's chancellor was meeting Tuesday with state governors to decide how long to extend the latest lockdown. Cyprus and France are likely to announce tougher measures Thursday, and Ukraine is closing schools and restaurants starting Friday.

In Latin America, some warn the worse is yet to come.

Mexico's capital has more virus patients than at any point in the pandemic and is flying in doctors from less hard-hit states. Its beach resorts are readying for more cases after thousands of US and European tourists visited over the holidays.

"Probably in the third week of January, we are going to see the system stressed more, that there will be more ambulatory cases and cases requiring hospitalisation," said Dr Mauricio Rodriguez of Mexico's National Autonomous University. He blamed the rise on fatigue with social distancing, mixed messages from public figures and Mexicans lowering their guard during the holidays.

READ MORE: Man accused of deliberately ruining 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine

Beach parties were blamed for surging cases in Argentina, notably among young people, and the government is considering new restrictions.

Curfew and booze bans in Africa's epicentre

In South Africa, the continent's hardest-hit nation, authorities re-imposed a curfew, banned liquor sales and closed most beaches. Zimbabwe reintroduced a curfew, banned public gatherings, and indefinitely suspended the opening of schools.

South Africa's undertakers are struggling to cope with the rise in deaths, National Funeral Practitioners Association of SA President Muzi Hlengwa told state broadcaster SABC.

"It is something that you have never seen before. … We have run out of coffins, we have run out of space at the mortuary," he said. "We normally have cremations during the day but now we have cremations even at night."

The pandemic is even reaching countries that seemed to have the virus under control.

'Can you lockdown yourself?'

Thailand is facing an unexpected surge that has infected thousands in a few weeks blamed on complacency and poor planning. The government is locking down large parts of the country, including the capital Bangkok, and considering tougher measures.

"We don't want to lock down the entire country because we know what the problems are, so can you all lock down yourselves?" Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pleaded with his nation.

Japan is getting ready to declare a state of emergency this week, beefing up border controls and speeding up vaccine approval after a surge of cases around New Year's Eve.

Italy has been trying to control its latest surge with local measures. After two months of restrictions, infections have plateaued but hospitals are still under pressure, hundreds of people are still dying every day and officials fear cases will surge again due to holiday get-togethers.

READ MORE: China names areas 'high danger zones' after new COVID-19 spike

And holiday worries aren't over now that 2021 has arrived.

Pope Francis abandoned an annual ritual of baptising babies in the Sistine Chapel tied to Wednesday's Epiphany holiday. Orthodox Christian countries like Russia and Greece could face more infections after they celebrate Christmas on Thursday. And China is closing schools early ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday, telling migrant workers not to go home and tourists to avoid Beijing.

Exit in sight, but progress slow

Vaccines offer an exit, but are getting off to a slow start in many places. Some US states are struggling to secure enough shots and organise vaccinations. The Netherlands has come under heavy criticism for being the last European Union nation to start inoculations, which it will do Wednesday. Australia isn't planning to do so until March. And most poorer countries are even farther behind.

Opposition politician Geert Wilders called the Dutch government "the village idiot of Europe".

Yet India offers a glimmer of hope. Its infection rate is down significantly from a September peak, and the country is kicking off one of the largest inoculation programs in the world, aiming at vaccinating 300 million people by August.

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A 25-year-old man has been arrested after two children were killed and three others injured when they were struck by a car in rural New South Wales yesterday.

Four boys — aged six, seven, nine and 10 — and a 34-year-old woman are believed to have just been at the local pool when they were struck on Warne Street in Wellington, near Dubbo and about 350km north-west of Sydney, about 4.30pm.

Ambulance paramedics treated the group at the scene, however the two youngest boys died a short time later.

The woman was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

The 10-year-old boy sustained serious leg injuries and was airlifted to The Children's Hospital at Westmead and is undergoing surgery.

The nine-year-old boy sustained minor injuries and was taken to Orange Base Hospital.

NSW Police said the driver of the vehicle left the scene before officers arrived.

Acting Superintendent Natalie Antaw said police located the 25-year-old Wellington man just after 8.40pm and arrested him "after a short foot pursuit".

"He has been taken to Dubbo Police Station to assist police with inquiries."

NSW Ambulance Superintendent Andrew DeGabriel said paramedics were confronted by a tragic scene.

"These types of incidents are shocking for all emergency services and witnesses involved," he said.

"We were confronted with an absolutely devastating scene in Wellington.

"It's heartbreaking for this to happen to such a small community."

Thirteen ambulance crews and four specialist medical teams via helicopter were dispatched to the scene, Mr DeGabriel said.

Forensic police and crash investigation unit officers will examine the crime scene, which is being guarded by police overnight.

"Obviously it's tragic circumstances for the entire community and our thoughts are completely with the family and friends of the little ones involved and also the rest of the community of Wellington," Ms Antaw said.

"Obviously a scene like that is horrific for anybody."

Ms Antaw said the investigation was ongoing and urged anyone with information or CCTV or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.