Victoria has shut its borders to people travelling from greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast, declaring the area a red zone for coronavirus.

London and southeast England may stay under tighter coronavirus curbs for some time, with Britain's health minister saying dropping plans to ease restrictions for Christmas was needed to stem a new fast-spreading strain.

Moderna's coronavirus vaccine has become the second to receive emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration, which is welcome news to a nation with a staggering COVID-19 death toll of more than 307,000 lives lost.

Sydney's northern beaches will enter lockdown from Saturday evening as the coronavirus outbreak in the area grows to 40 cases.

Whether to eat outside on Christmas Day will depend on where you live, with the Bureau of Meteorology releasing its weather forecast for December 25.