Coronavirus - 6th December 2021

• Prof Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases, tells the BBC that Omicron could become the UK's dominant variant within weeks
  
• Future pandemics could be more lethal than the current Covid crisis, Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, one of thecreators of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has warned
  
• People can now show evidence of a negative Covid test to get into clubs, concerts or large events in Scotland. Previously, it was just proof of vaccination
  
• The return of pre-departure Covid tests for travellers to the UK will come into force on Tuesday
  
• Former health secretary Matt Hancock said breaking social distancing guidance, which led to his resignation, was "a failure of leadership"
  
• South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions amid a fourth wave driven by the Omicron variant, President Cyril Ramaphosa says
  
• Future pandemics could be more lethal than the current Covid crisis, Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, one of thecreators of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has warned
  
• There has been a “concerning” jump to 183 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Denmark, local health authorities said.
  
• Five senior health officers in Jordan were sentenced to three years in prison on Sunday, for causing the deaths of ten Covid patients in March following an oxygen outage.
  
• Russia recorded 32,602 infections and 1,206 deaths.
  
• Poland confirmed 22,389 cases and 45 deaths.
  
• Italy reported 15,021 new Covid cases and 43 deaths on Sunday, 16% up from 12,927 on the same day last week.
  
• The UK detected 43,992 positive Covid infections in the past 24 hours, up 21% from 36,507 cases on Sunday last week. A further 54 deaths were reported.
  
• France recorded 42,252 new Covid infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, a percentage change of 188% from the 14,646 cases recorded on Sunday three weeks ago.
  
• Singapore detected 552 Covid infections and 13 deaths on Sunday, taking the seven-day average to 971 cases a day.
  
• The UK’s NHS will be in a “very, very difficult position” if the Omicron variant were to lead to a surge in hospital admissions in the UK, the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has warned.
  
• The Omicron variant is highly transmissible, but has a less than 1% chance of re-infection and typically results in “milder” disease, a South African researcher as said.
  
• Covid is not over and the next pandemic could be more lethal, the creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert has said.
  
• The World Health Organization continues to reject travel bans against southern African countries, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeting it is “disappointing” and “dismaying” to see bans on flights.
  
• The Omicron variant has been found in at least 15 US states so far, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday.
  “We know we have several dozen cases and we’re following them closely. And we are every day hearing about more and more probable cases so that number is likely to rise,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told ABC News in an interview, adding that the Delta variant remains the majority in cases nationwide.
  Omicron has been detected in the Northeast, the South, the Great Plains and the West Coast. Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisiana are among the latest states to confirm cases.
  
• Germany’s incoming new government is set to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for workers of hospitals, nursing homes and other medical staff by 16 March, according to draft legislation seen by Reuters.
  The Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats, which are set to form the new German government on Wednesday, are set to present the legislation to parliament in the coming week.
  

Omicron found in one-third of US states

“We know we have several dozen cases and we’re following them closely. And we are every day hearing about more and more probable cases so that number is likely to rise.”

Germany plans vaccine mandates for some health jobs

South Africa reports a daily increase of 11,125 new cases

Germany reports an additional 27,836 daily Covid cases

Australia's travel ban labeled as 'discriminatory'

Thailand detects first case of Omicron variant

Mid-morning summary

• The incoming German government wants to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory from 16 March for people working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical practices, according to a copy of draft legislation seen by Reuters on Sunday.
  
• Thailand has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a US citizen who had travelled to the country from Spain late last month, a health official said.
  
• South Korea reported another 4,325 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and a further 41 deaths.
  
• India reported an additional 8,306 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours and a further 211 deaths. The nation’s active caseload currently stands at 98,416 and is the lowest reported in 552 days.
  
• South Africa reported a daily increase of 11,125 new Covid cases on Sunday, a slight decrease in number on previous days.
  
• New Zealand purchased 60,000 courses of Pfizer’s oral antiviral medication to treat early infections of Covid-19, subject to Medsafe approval, prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced.
  
• A probable case of the Omicron variant has been identified in a crew member of a Norwegian Cruise ship that reached New Orleans on Sunday.
  
• Dr Anthony Fauci said the threat to the US from the Omicron variant remained to be determined – but that signs from South Africa, where the variant emerged, were encouraging.
  
• The Omicron variant has been found in at least 16 US states so far, with the number of cases “likely to rise”, Dr Rochelle Walensky, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Sunday.
  

South Africa: Omicron driving fourth Covid wave

Nigeria now on UK's travel red list over Omicron

Take a test when you leave home - Scottish minister

No jab, no cinema: Italy tightens rules on unvaccinated people

Travelling to the UK or abroad? Here are the new rules

Rome issues first fine for travelling on a bus without a vaccination health pass

Belgian police fire water cannon at anti-lockdown protests

Today so far

• Sarafa Tunji Isola, the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK, has said of the recentlty imposed travel ban that “the reaction in Nigeria is that of travel apartheid. We’re not dealing with an endemic situation, we are dealing with a pandemic situation, and what is expected is a global approach, not selective. Omicron is classified as a mild variant – no hospitalisation, no death. So the issue is quite different from the Delta variant.”
  
• UK government’s policing minister Kit Malthouse immediately hit back, and said describing measures imposed on numerous African nations as “travel apartheid” is “very unfortunate language”.
  
• UK prime minister Boris Johnson has denied scientists’ allegations that introducing travel restrictions to slow the spread of Omicron is like “shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted”.
  
• South Africa is preparing its hospitals for further admissions, as the Omicron variant pushes the country into a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on Monday. Ramaphosa said Omicron appeared to be dominating new infections in most provinces and urged more people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
  
• A man was fined €400 for travelling by bus in Rome without a valid health pass as new measures against the unvaccinated started in Italy. The “super green pass” bars the unvaccinated from a host of social, cultural and sporting activities, including dining inside at bars and restaurants.
  
• The incoming government in Germany wants to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory from 16 March for people working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical practices, according to a copy of draft legislation
  
• Nepal, Russia and Argentina were among countries detecting the Omicron variant for the first time. Argentina’s health ministry said there case was a fully vaccinated person who arrived on 30 November from South Africa via the US, and who had given a negative PCR test prior to travelling and another negative antigen test upon arrival in Buenos Aires.
  
• Argentina has today approved Russia’s one-dose Sputnik Light as a standalone vaccine and a booster shot.
  
• Cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have risen to 21 in India over the weekend and people must step up for vaccination, officials said.
  
• A probable case of the Omicron variant has been identified in a crew member of a Norwegian cruise ship that reached New Orleans on Sunday.
  
• Dr Anthony Fauci said the threat to the US from the Omicron variant remained to be determined – but that signs from South Africa, where the variant emerged, were encouraging.
  
• The Omicron variant has been found in at least 16 US states so far, with the number of cases “likely to rise”, Dr Rochelle Walensky, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Sunday.
  
• Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert cautioned that while it was increasingly obvious that ‘this pandemic is not done with us’, the next one could be more contagious, more lethal, or both. She called for more funding for pandemic preparedness.
  
• Critical care consultant Dr Zudin Puthucheary said it could be five years before Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients “reach their normal lives again”.
  
• People with cold-like symptoms should work from home and avoid Christmas parties in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus, according to Tim Spector, from the Covid Zoe app.
  
• Prof Paul Hunter, from the school of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said there was concern that Omicron “is spreading rather more quickly than the Delta variant” and there were probably more than 1,000 cases in the UK at the moment. He said: “I think the early signs are that it will probably spread quite quickly and probably start outcompeting Delta and become the dominant variant probably within the next weeks or a month or so at least.”
  

UK doubles number of hotel rooms for travel quarantine

Covid in Uganda: The man whose children may never return to school

More Omicron cases confirmed in England

The latest from South Africa as fourth wave begins

Suspected Omicron outbreak closes Paisley primary school

Sainsbury's asks staff to delay Christmas parties

All New York workers must get vaccinated by end of year

What are the vaccine passport rules in the UK?

Travel test prices on government site misleading, says trade body

Canada's new travel rules cause chaos and confusion

Number of Omicron cases in UK tops 300

We want people to increase the frequency of the use of lateral flow tests, away from the two times per week to much more frequently when they are socialising and interacting with others.
Personally, I am now doing a lateral flow test every day I am going out with the prospect of meeting other members of the public outside my household.
I would encourage others to do exactly the same, because that gives me confidence I’m protecting my household and it gives me confidence I’m protecting other people.

Poland to introduce new Covid restrictions

New York City to mandate vaccines for private sector workers

Norway to introduce new Covid restrictions

Italy has registered 134,287 deaths linked to Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the ninth-highest in the world. The country has reported 5.12 million cases to date.
Patients in hospital with Covid-19 - not including those in intensive care - stood at 5,879 on Monday, up from 5,597 a day earlier.

Sixty-eight medics at the University Regional Hospital in Malaga had been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the Andalusian regional government said.
Health authorities said they were investigating the source of the infection but added all 68 attended a Christmas party on 1 December at which 173 people were present. Another possible source of the infection could have been a large meal for hospital staff, authorities said.

• Only table service will be allowed.
  
• There must be one metre between tables.
  
• There can be a maximum of six adults per table (maximum 15 persons when including children aged 12 and younger).
  
• There can be no multiple bookings of tables and no intermingling between tables.
  
• Masks must be worn when not seated.
  
• Closing time remains unchanged (midnight closing time for all non-licenced premises)
  

• Maximum 50% capacity at indoor entertainment, cultural, community and sporting events which must be fully seated. This does not include religious or educational events or normal workplace business activity.
  
• Face masks should be worn at all times unless eating or drinking.
  
• There will be a requirement for a COVID pass (vaccination or recovery) for access to gyms and leisure centres (excluding access to swimming pools or standalone swimming pool facilities) and hotel bars and restaurants (that is, removing exemption for residents).
  
• All nightclubs will close.
  
• There will be no change to weddings or outdoor gatherings.
  

• Visits should be kept to a maximum of three other households (that is, 4 households in total).
  
• Recognising the need for flexibility depending on individual circumstances, people should limit their contacts throughout the period.
  

• Prioritising close friends and family and being conscious of vulnerable people in social circles.
  
• Meeting outdoors where possible and opening windows and doors to let fresh air in if meeting indoors.
  
• Wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and cleaning hands frequently.
  
• Using antigen tests appropriately.
  

Public 'not satisfied' with No 10 Christmas party answers

Russia confirms first Omicron cases

Javid to give MPs Covid update

More US travel rules on tests come into effect

Community transmission of Omicron in UK, says Javid

Sajid Javid begins by telling MPs there have been 261 confirmed cases of Omicron in England, 71 in Scotland and 4 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 336.
This includes cases with no links to international travel, he says.
"We can conclude there is now community transmission across multiple regions in the UK," he says.
The variant is also in 52 countries, he adds.

21 Omicron cases linked to travel from Nigeria

Javid: New travel pre-departure test rules are temporary

We are strengthening our defences - Javid

Labour: Tackle racket of soaring test costs

Is the NHS prepared for the 'worst case scenario', asks MP

What's it like in a quarantine hotel? Awful, say these newlyweds

 

UK records 51,000 new cases

A further 51,459 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the UK, according to the latest daily figures.
Some 41 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, the government figures show.
Figures can be lower at the start of the week due to a delay in data being recorded over the weekend.

Public 'not satisfied' with No 10 Christmas party answers

Russia confirms first Omicron cases

Health secretary says Omicron spreading in the community

Analysis: Omicron and its infectiousness

Summary

• The Omicron variant of coronavirus is now circulating within the community in the UK, according to the health secretary, Sajid Javid. He told MPs “multiple regions of England” were seeing cases not linked to international travel. But he added that none of the 336 people with a confirmed case of Omicron had been admitted to hospital.
  
• New Covid restrictions are to be introduced in Norway after a recent increase in infections, the country’s health minister has said. “These measures will be felt in our daily lives,” Ingvild Kjerkol said, adding that the new measures had become necessary because of a rise in infections and the uncertainty of the potential impact of Omicron.
  
• All private employers in New York City will have to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for their workers, the city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, has announced. The vaccine mandate for private businesses will take effect on 27 December. De Blasio also announced an extension to the city’s Covid passports to all people aged over five years old.
  
• A sweeping vaccine mandate is to be imposed in the Czech Republic, with care workers, nurses, doctors, police and soldiers, and anyone else aged over 60, to be ordered to take a coronavirus vaccine. “Other countries are taking this path,” The health minister, Adam Vojtech, said. “It is a trend that will prevail across Europe.”
  
• A vaccine mandate for public sector workers in Slovenia was struck down as unconstitutional by the country’s highest court. “Such a condition is comparable with obligatory vaccination, which is something that first requires a change in the law on infectious diseases,” the constitutional court said of the mandate, which the government had aimed to impose on 1 October.
  
• A new package of pandemic restrictions will be imposed in Poland this week, the prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has said. “Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest, we will present a second (package) related to the Christmas situation, and as reaction to the virus’ Omicron mutation,” Morawiecki said. Vaccine mandates would be included, he said.
  
• An epidemiologist who has been a prominent voice of caution in handling the Covid pandemic has been appointed minister for health in Germany. Olaf Scholz, who is to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor, picked Karl Lauterbach for the closely watched appointment, according to the US-based news agency the Associated Press.
  
• Croatia, Nepal, Russia and Argentina were among the countries reporting their first cases of Omicron. In Thailand a health official said on Monday that the country’s first suspected case of the new variant had been detected but authorities would withhold confirmation ahead of further test results. The variant has also been found in at least 16 US states.
  
• Nigerian high commissioner to the UK, Sarafa Tunji Isola, described a ban on travel between the two countries as “travel apartheid”. “We’re not dealing with an endemic situation, we are dealing with a pandemic situation, and what is expected is a global approach, not selective,” Isola said. “Omicron is classified as a mild variant – no hospitalisation, no death.”
  
• South Africa is preparing its hospitals for further admissions, as the Omicron variant pushes the country into a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement on Monday. Ramaphosa said Omicron appeared to be dominating new infections in most provinces and urged more people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.