Coronavirus - 17th December 2021

Summary for Friday, 17th December

• Wales must introduce further restrictions because “the storm of Omicron is coming our way”, First Minister Mark Drakeford says
  
• From 27 December, nightclubs in Wales must close in response to the Omicron variant
  
• Social distancing will also be required in shops and workplaces
  
• The UK reported a record 88,375 daily Covid cases on Thursday
  
• The Archbishop of Canterbury says he was "disappointed" to see a photo of a Tory staff party during lockdown last Christmas
  
• Meanwhile, the Department for Transport has apologised after staff held a gathering last December
  
• President Biden warns unvaccinated Americans faces a winter of severe illness and death because of Omicron
  

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are the top stories for the UK this morning:

• Nightclubs will close and social distancing will be required in shops and workplaces in Wales from 27 December in response to the Omicron variant
  
• First Minister Mark Drakeford says the country must prepare now for the “storm of Omicron” which is approaching
  
• The UK reported another record number of daily Covid cases, with 88,376 infections confirmed on Thursday
  
• The Archbishop of Canterbury says he was "disappointed" to see a photo of Tory staff at a party last Christmas while the country was in lockdown
  
• Meanwhile, the Department for Transport has apologised after staff held a lockdown gathering last December
  
• President Biden has warned unvaccinated Americans face a winter of severe illness and death because Omicron is on the point of spreading much more rapidly
  

- and from around the world: 
There’s been a flurry of new developments over the past 24 hours so here is a snapshot of the key stories.

• CDC advisers recommend Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over Johnson & Johnson. The panel cited the risk of rare but sometimes fatal cases of blood clotting as well as a lower level of effectiveness against Covid in the J&J shot.
  
• The European Commission says it has struck a deal with US pharmaceutical company Moderna to speed up delivery of its Covid vaccine, particularly with a view to supplying Germany with 10 million doses in December.
  
• Denmark broke its daily Covid record for the fourth day running, warning new restrictions were on the horizon.
  
• The UK recorded its highest tally of lab-confirmed Covid cases since the pandemic began – for the second day running – with almost 90,000 new infections. Independent SAGE said it’s urging a circuit-breaker lockdown until 24 December.
  
• England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty told MPs hospital admissions could peak above levels seen last winter, before the vaccine roll-out, given Omicron’s infectiousness.
  
• Italy reported its highest Covid case rate since 12 March, with
  26,109 cases, jumping 90% on three weeks ago.
  
• Germany’s health minister Karl Lauterbac warned the country is lacking millions of Covid vaccine doses, imperilling the country’s defence against the highly-mutated Omicron strain.
  
• Poland reported its first case of the Omicron variant.
  
• In the UK Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled plans for a pre-Christmas family lunch.
  
• The R number for Omicron in the UK is estimated to be between 3 and 5, Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health and Security Agency, said.
  
• Indonesia is urging people not to travel abroad after the country detected its first Omicron case.
  
• Sweden is to end vaccine pass exemption for its Nordic neighbours.
  
• France is banning British tourists from Saturday amid concern over Omicron cases in the UK. Travel to and from the UK without “compelling reasons” – which does not include travel or business – will be banned.
  
• Israel says it is donating 1m Covid vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX program to reach African countries.
  
• New Zealand detected its first case of Omicron in an isolation facility.
  
• The Welsh government will bring in new restrictions including closing nightclubs and imposing a 2-metre social distancing rule in offices from 27 December
  
• UK prime minister Boris Johnson attended a pizza party in No 10 Downing Street during the May 2020 lockdown, a joint investigation by the Guardian and Independent reported.
  

Nightclubs in Wales to close from 27 December

Our main story this morning is the plan for restrictions in Wales from 27 December in response to the Omicron variant.
From that date nightclubs must close and social distancing will be required in shops and businesses.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has also called for people to have a smaller Christmas and avoid meeting "wider circles of friends".
Public Health Wales says a “rapid increase” of Omicron is expected over the coming days and weeks, and officials believe Wales is a few days behind other UK hotspots.
Read the full story.

Storm of Omicron coming to Wales - Drakeford

Wales must introduce new restrictions because “the storm of Omicron is coming our way”, the first minister says.
Mark Drakeford tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Wales is currently in the “calm before the storm”, with figures stable and hospital admissions falling.
But he says they must prepare now to be hit by Omicron.

UK reports another record day for Covid cases

Wales' plans for tougher restrictions from 27 December came after the UK reported another record number of daily Covid cases on Thursday.
Another 88,376 cases were confirmed.
England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, has said cases of the Omicron variant could rise "incredibly fast", but its peak could subside more quickly than previous waves because of the booster rollout.
Cases began rising at the beginning of November and have surged since the emergence of the highly transmissible variant earlier this month.
However, there is no sign yet of a big rise in hospital admissions and deaths, partly because of the impact of vaccines but also because these figures lag behind cases.
Find out how many cases there are in your area here.

New regulations for Scottish businesses come into force

We've been hearing this morning about how Wales plans to introduce tougher Covid restrictions later this month - but in Scotland new legal measures on businesses to control the spread of Covid have taken effect today.
Firms are now legally required to take measures to minimise transmission due to concerns about the Omicron variant.
Shops and hospitality venues have to work to reduce crowding and queueing, put up screens and barriers and enforce the wearing of face masks.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned on Thursday that further restrictions on "high risk" sectors may be unavoidable.
In Wales, nightclubs will close and social distancing measures will be required in shops and workplaces from 27 December.

Family 'devastated' care home visit not allowed over Christmas

The surge of Omicron means families of care home residents are facing another Christmas with restrictions on how much they can see their loved ones.
Care home residents in England will only be allowed three visitors and an essential care giver under new guidance - but some won't be able to see family members at all.
Sandy Pearson has been told she cannot see her mother over Christmas because her care home is only allowing residents to visit families outside the home, which her mother cannot do.
She describes the situation as "devastating for a second year in a row".
Sandy tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that generally the care home has been superb and she thinks the rules could be to do with staff shortages.
"I’m looking and thinking how much longer have we got with her? This could be her last Christmas. The thought of not seeing her again is absolutely heartbreaking," she says.

Theatre loses £180,000 after Covid outbreak

Rising Covid cases are also hitting the theatre industry, with shows including The Lion King and The Life of Pi forced to cancel performances because of outbreaks.
Joanna Reid, executive director of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, says her team have had to cancel 12 of its Christmas shows after half of the cast tested positive.
She tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the theatre have refunded £180,000 worth of tickets, both because of cancelled performances and "confusing messaging" over Plan B restrictions.
While she says people still want to go to the theatre she adds that "there's been a real dent of confidence".

Student stuck in isolation on Christmas Day

The UK's 10-day isolation period means that anyone who tests positive for Covid now will be forced to stay by themselves over Christmas.
One of those affected is Katelyn Mensah, a student at the University of Lincoln, who tested positive on a lateral flow yesterday and is waiting for a PCR result.
If that comes back positive, Katelyn will be stuck in her student flat on her own until 26 December.
She tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme she's been trying to keep a "positive attitude", making plans to FaceTime her family to open presents and cook herself a small roast dinner.
And she's hoping that if she's recovered she'll be able to travel home on Boxing Day.
If you're suffering with Covid at home here's some tips on how to manage.

'Covid stopped my life-saving operation'

Lara Wahab has type 1 diabetes and needs a life-saving kidney and pancreas transplant.
But despite matching organs being found, she says her hospital couldn't do the operation because no intensive care beds were available.
The 34-year-old from Crouch End, north London, had been told the wait would be about 12-15 months, but disruption to the NHS due to the Covid-19 pandemic means she's been waiting for more than two years.
Lara thanked "amazing" NHS staff, but blames unvaccinated people for taking up beds. She says those who can be vaccinated should have the Covid jab, or risk using hospital resources that others need.
Read more here.

Four more Premier League games postponed after Covid outbreaks

Half of this weekend's Premier League fixtures have now been called off, after four more games were postponed because of Covid outbreaks.
The latest games affected are Southampton v Brentford, Watford v Crystal Palace, West Ham v Norwich and Everton v Leicester.
On Wednesday, Brentford boss Thomas Frank called for this weekend's top-flight fixtures to be postponed to let clubs deal with the outbreaks - but the Premier League is so far resisting that.

More than 60% plan to visit family or friends over Christmas - ONS

Tim Vizard - Consultant statistician, BBC News
Around six in 10 adults (62%) say they are planning to visit family or friends in their homes over the Christmas period, while about five in 10 (48%) plan to have family or friends visit them in their home, new data from the ONS suggests.
The survey, based on about 3,000 adults in Great Britain and conducted between 1 to 12 December, found eight in 10 adults (80%) said they are planning to stay at home if feeling unwell to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Around four in 10 adults (42%) said they had taken a lateral flow test in the last seven days.
The survey also found 94% of adults said they wore a face mask at some point in the last seven days, up from 84% in the late November.
This follows the introduction of new rules which came into force on 30 November, requiring face masks on public transport and in shops in England.
Among those who travelled on public transport in the past seven days, 84% of adults said they wore a face covering for the whole journey, up from 70% in late November.

Rise in bookings ahead of France travel restrictions

As we've been reporting, France is imposing tighter Covid restrictions for travellers arriving from the UK tonight, in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
From 23:00 GMT, most travellers who are not French residents or citizens must give a "compelling reason" for their journey.
Some lorry drivers and students will be able to travel, but Brits visiting relatives are not currently listed.
All arrivals will have to provide a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old and isolate for at least two days.
Eurostar says it has seen a rise in bookings for travel today before the new rules come into effect, but it did not give precise figures.
It is advising passengers not to come to the station unless they have a valid ticket and the necessary testing completed.
Customers who need to change their plans are being offered a fee-free exchange or e-voucher.
Brittany Ferries says it has seen a small increase in bookings for today, describing the new measures as a hammer blow.
Yesterday, ferry operator DFDS said it expected today's services to be busy as people prepare to get away for Christmas to see family and friends ahead of tonight's deadline.

G7 calls Omicron ‘biggest current threat’ to world health

The G7 has called the Omicron variant the “biggest current threat to global public health”, warning it is now “more important than ever” for countries to “closely cooperate”.
Britain, which is currently chair of the group, said in a statement on Thursday:

Deeply concerned by the rise in cases, ministers agreed that these developments should be seen as the biggest current threat to global public health.
It is more important than ever to closely cooperate, and monitor as well as share data.”

The G7 health ministers earlier held their final meeting hosted by Britain, which has seen a surge in cases over recent days, registering record numbers and a record day of booster jabs on Thursday.
The ministers focussed on global access to diagnostics, genome sequencing, vaccines and therapeutics in a bid to combat its spread.
“They also agreed on the increasing importance of booster campaigns and regular testing alongside continued non-pharmaceutical measures,” the statement said.

Biden warns of ‘winter of severe illness and death’ for unvaccinated

Melody Schreiber - The Guardian
US president Joe Biden on Thursday warned of “a winter of severe illness and death” for those not vaccinated against Covid-19, amid a wave of Delta infections and as new Omicron cases are beginning to surge in America.
The US president spoke as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the Omicron variant could peak as early as January and states are scrambling to prepare for overloaded hospitals.
The US has passed 800,000 coronavirus deaths, including one in 100 Americans over the age of 65.
After a briefing on the pandemic from advisers on Thursday afternoon, Biden said Omicron is “now spreading and it’s going to increase”.
“For the unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death,” he said, urging Americans to get vaccinated and get their boosters as soon as possible.
Read the full story here.

Here is a bizarre story out of the US to add a little light relief to an otherwise sombre news day
A Florida man wearing a red thong as a face mask was forced off a United Airlines flight after failing to comply with the federal mask mandate.
Adam Jenne, 38, was asked to leave the aircraft before it took off from Fort Lauderdale airport on Wednesday.
He told local news channel NBC2 that he wanted to show the “absurdity” of forcing passengers to wear masks on planes while allowing them to be removed to eat and drink on board.
“It’s all nonsense. Covid doesn’t know that we’re at cruising altitude. It’s stupid. The whole thing is theater,” Jenne told NBC2.
He added he had worn underwear on his face during previous flights, and told the air crew that “it is a mask, doing its job.”
Video of the incident, filmed by another passenger, showed the flight crew informing Jenne that he would not be able to stay on board if he kept the thong on his face. After some discussion, he finally left his seat.


Thousands of travellers are trying to make it to France before a travel ban on UK tourists comes into effect on Saturday.
PA Media reports:

Cross-Channel rail operator Eurostar is urging people to avoid London St Pancras station unless they have a pre-booked ticket.
Most of the firm’s train services on Friday were sold out as many people brought their Christmas travel plans forward after the new coronavirus restrictions were announced on Thursday.
Ferry operators and airlines have also experienced a surge in demand.
The French prime minister, Jean Castex, said tough restrictions will be enforced from Saturday, including a requirement for “compelling reasons” to travel to or from the UK.
Trips for tourism or business will not be permitted.
Castex’s office said this is “in the face of the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United Kingdom”.
All arrivals in France will need to provide evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken less than 24 hours in advance, and must isolate for at least two days.
Hauliers are exempt from the new rules.
Travel firms described the tourism ban as a “hammer blow”.

Austria to temporarily relax restrictions on unvaccinated citizens

Christmas markets re-opening in Vienna after a three week lockdown

The Austrian government has agreed to temporarily relax restrictions on unvaccinated citizens amid falling case numbers in the country.
Austria exited a three-week lockdown on Sunday, but had kept curbs on the freedoms on unvaccinated Austrians in place.
But Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein announced on Friday that they will be granted an exception to join gatherings of up to 10 people from 24 to 26 December, and on New Year's Eve.
Under rules imposed last month, unvaccinated Austrians are generally not allowed to meet more than one person at a time from another household.
"Christmas should show us once again how important contact with our loved ones is and how precious time together is," Mueckstein told reporters.
"We have in recent weeks gained an advantage that we want to use.
"We want to use it to take a moment to pause over Christmas to remember what is really important."

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is making good progress with his recovery from Covid-19 while continuing to receive treatment for mild symptoms.
Ramaphosa, who was given Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine in February, tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday.

German government considering classifying UK 'virus variant area', meaning travellers would be required to quarantine

The German government is looking into whether the UK should be classified as a “virus variant area”, reports Reuters, following the rapid rise of Omicron in the country.
Classification as a virus variant area would mean that travellers arriving in Germany from the UK would be required to quarantine for two weeks, even if they are vaccinated.
A spokesperson for the health ministry said the government is expected to make a decision later today.
It comes after France yesterday announced that it was banning all non-essential travel from the UK, starting from tonight.

Omicron cases rising across most of UK, reports ONS, while one in 60 people in England had Covid last week

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that the number of Omicron cases rose last week in England, Scotland and Wales, but that Delta was still the most common variant.
It found that one in 60 people in England had Covid in the week ending 11 December. In Wales the figure was 1 in 55, in Northern Ireland it was 1 in 50 and in Scotland it was 1 in 80.

One in 60 is the equivalent of about 936,000 people, reports PA Media. The proportion of people who were estimated to have coronavirus at the peak of the second wave in early January was one in 50.

What's happened so far today?

If you're just joining us, here's a quick summary of what's happened so far today:

• Nightclubs in Wales must close from 27 December and social distancing will be required in shops and workplaces
  
• The measures are needed because the "storm of Omicron" is coming, First Minister Mark Drakeford says
  
• In Scotland, new regulations requiring businesses to take steps to minimise the spread of Covid have come into force
  
• Ports are reporting long queues to board ferries and Eurostar has advised ticketless customers not to come to St Pancras station ahead of a ban on most travel to France coming into force tonight
  
• Half of this weekend's Premier League matches have been postponed due to Covid outbreaks
  
• South Africa's health minister says his government believes vaccines and previous Covid infections are contributing to the wave of milder disease caused by the Omicron variant
  
• Austria is temporarily relaxing restrictions on unvaccinated citizens amid falling case numbers
  

'This is the calm before the storm' - Drakeford

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford is giving an update after the Welsh government announced new guidance and post-Christmas rules.
He begins by saying the Omicron variant is in Wales and it is spreading.
At the moment the "vast majority" of coronavirus cases in Wales are caused by the Delta variant, Drakeford says, adding they believe it will continue to be the main cause of cases up until Christmas.
"But this is the calm before the storm," he says, adding that Omicron will be the dominant form of the virus by the end of December across the UK.

Tsunami is starting to hit as Omicron becomes dominant - Sturgeon

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says there are now 696 cases of Omicron in Scotland confirmed through genomic sequencing.
She says: "This significantly underestimates the true number."
Speaking at her briefing, she says Omicron is now the dominant variant in Scotland, replacing Delta, and adds Omicron cases are rising "faster than anything experienced previously" in the pandemic, doubling every two to three days.
"The tsunami is now starting to hit us," she says, adding: "But we are not powerless in the face of it."

'Smaller Christmas a safer Christmas' - Drakeford

Wales' new guidance is to protect people from the Delta variant in the run-up to Christmas before stronger restrictions come in to counter Omicron, Mark Drakeford says.
He says "no-one wants to be ill at Christmas" and asks people to try to reduce the number of people they meet as Omicron likes social contact.
The first minister says new care home guidance will be published before the end of the week, while the chief medical officer will write to people on the shielding list to offer advice on how to protect themselves.
The law will also be changed to say people must work from home "wherever we can", he says.
"This year without any doubt at all a smaller Christmas will be a safer Christmas," Drakeford says.

First Minister confirms Wales' post-Christmas restrictions

Mark Drakeford confirms the new Covid measures to be introduced from 27 December saying they are to help control Omicron's "rapid spread and to prevent large numbers of people from needing hospital care".
He says the rules will draw on elements of the former alert level two regime which was used to keep businesses open in a safe way earlier in the pandemic.
Shops, workplaces and businesses will reopen after Christmas, Drakeford says, but with new protections in place - including a return of the 2m rule for social distancing, one-way systems and barriers.
He adds that nightclubs will close and the government is having further discussions about major events planned in the post-Christmas period.
Financial support of up to £60m will be made available to businesses affected by these plans.
You can follow full coverage of the news conference here.

Seven more deaths with Covid reported in Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon says, as of yesterday, 522 people are in hospital in Scotland with recently confirmed Covid-19, and 33 people are in intensive care.
Seven more deaths have been reported of people who have tested positive for coronavirus.
The first minister says due to the high volume of tests being processed, the true number of cases might not be reflected in these figures.
She urges everyone to stay at home as much as is feasible and limit their contacts.
You can follow full coverage of Sturgeon's update here.

Sadly Omicron poses a new threat to our health - Drakeford

Mark Drakeford says we had "all hoped for a new year in which the pandemic had become a fading memory", but he says that sadly Omicron poses "a new threat to our health and our safety".
He ends by wishing people "a happy but above all safe Christmas" and thanks those who will be working to keep people safe over the festive period including vaccinators.

Stay home in run-up to Christmas - Sturgeon

Scotland's first minister urges everyone to get vaccinated and get tested regularly.
Nicola Sturgeon says lateral flow tests are "easy to take and get hold of", and people should take one just before going out.
She emphasises that when people do mix, they should continue to wear face coverings, keep windows open if meeting indoors and follow the advice on hygiene.
"Please limit your social interactions," she says, and urges people to stay at home at much as possible in the run-up to Christmas.

1 in 50 in London, southeast and southwest of England had Covid last week, says ONS

More on today’s ONS figures, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid in eastern England and London in the last week is estimated to have increased last week.
In London, southeast England and southwest England, around one in 50 people were likely to have tested positive - the highest proportion for any region.
The lowest proportion was in northeast England and Yorkshire and the Humber at around one in 80.

Reminder: What are the new rules in Wales?

As we've just been hearing from Mark Drakeford a two-phase plan to tackle Covid in Wales is being introduced.
The first stage sees stronger guidance issued which includes:

• Take a lateral flow test before going out, going Christmas shopping or visiting people
  
• Meet outdoors, or if meeting indoors ensure it is well ventilated
  
• Leave a day between social events
  
• Socially distance, wear a face covering and wash your hands
  
• Get vaccinated, and make getting a booster a priority if you have had an appointment
  

Then the second phase, which Drakeford says is to counter the expected rise of the Omicron variant, will kick in from 27 December.
It will see changes to the law including nightclubs being forced to close and new measures introduced for businesses and workplaces.

What are the rules in Scotland?

At her briefing today, Nicola Sturgeon has reinforced Scotland’s latest Covid rules.
Here’s a reminder of measures for the nation announced earlier this week:

• People are asked to limit social contact to two other households either side of Christmas
  
• Shops and businesses required to take measures to limit the spread of Covid, such as screens in shops and crowd control in bars
  
• Care home residents can only have visitors from two households (who need to be tested)
  
• Employers to have a legal duty to let staff work from home
  
• Anyone who cannot work from home is advised to take twice-weekly lateral flow tests
  

Other measures were already in place, take a look at the full rules in Scotland.

UK facing 'considerable wave' of Omicron, says PM

The UK is facing a "considerable wave" of the Omicron variant, which is "a very serious threat", the prime minister says.
Speaking on a visit to a vaccination centre in Hillingdon, west London, Boris Johnson says the best thing people can do is follow government guidance and get their booster jab.
He denies he is at odds with England's chief medical officer over their advice for going out over Christmas, after Prof Chris Whitty said people should prioritise events that meant most to them.
Johnson says: "I've said already that people should be cautious, but what we have also said is that people should decide what they want to do. It is a matter for their personal choice."
"What both Chris Whitty and I are saying is that there is a big wave of Omicron coming through," he adds. "People need to be prudent. You need to think about your budget of risk."

England's R value rises to 1.0-1.2

England’s R value has risen to 1.0-1.2, the UK government said.
An R value of between 1.0 and 1.2 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 12 people.
The latest growth rate range for England is 0% to 2% per day, which means that the number of new infections are growing by up to 2% every day.
The estimates represent the transmission rate of two to three weeks ago. The government warned that “these estimates will not fully reflect the recent rapid growth of Omicron.”
Last Friday, the R range for England was 0.9 to 1.1 and the growth rate range for England was -1% to +2% per day.

German government considering classifying UK 'virus variant area', meaning travellers would be required to quarantine

The German government is looking into whether the UK should be classified as a “virus variant area”, reports Reuters, following the rapid rise of Omicron in the country.
Classification as a virus variant area would mean that travellers arriving in Germany from the UK would be required to quarantine for two weeks, even if they are vaccinated.
A spokesperson for the health ministry said the government is expected to make a decision later today.
It comes after France yesterday announced that it was banning all non-essential travel from the UK, starting from tonight.

German health minister warns of 'massive fifth wave' unlike anything seen before

The German health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said he expects the Omicron variant to lead to a “massive fifth wave” of the pandemic.
Lauterbach, a former epidemiology professor, said during a visit to the Lower Saxony region that Germany must prepare for a challenge “that we have never seen in this form before,” reports Reuters.

Denmark announces additional Covid restrictions, saying that Omicron now accounts for a fifth of cases

The Danish prime minister today said her government would propose new Covid restrictions, including closing theatres and cinemas, to try to control its spread.
Mette Frederiksen said that Omicron now accounts for a fifth of all coronavirus cases in Denmark.

Fire protests outbreak in prison in Thailand

Hundreds of inmates started fires in a prison in southern Thailand in protest, demanding better medical care for those suffering from Covid, reports the Associated Press.
Around 400 people at Krabi’s main provincial prison became violent last night when a group demanded that those infected with coronavirus be removed from the facility for treatment, justice minister Somsak Thepsuthin said.
Inmates reportedly started destroying property in a sleeping area and starting fires. Around 300 police and security workers were sent to the prison in response.
After overnight negotiations, 14 inmates with severe Covid symptoms were sent for treatment.
To date, the corrections department has reported a total of 86,432 Covid cases and 185 deaths among Thailand’s prison population.

The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, said there were about 100 confirmed cases of Omicron in Wales in every health board area.
Steven Morris - The Guardian
But he made it clear that the modelling he has seen suggests that half of people in the UK could become infected with the strain. “It is the most serious development in the pandemic to date,” he told his press conference in Cardiff. “We see the storm gathering. The sky has darkened.”
Drakeford said he believed the “epicentre” of the Omicron storm in Wales would be January and hoped the country would be past the peak in February.
He said there were no plans to try to stop people travelling into Wales as Omicron was so fast-moving it would not be an effective measure.
Asked about the disproportionate effect the decision to close nightclubs would have on young people, Drakeford said he wanted to keep them safe.
He said the Welsh Covid pass system had kept clubs open – and could be used to get them re-opened in due course.

Here’s more from the Associated Press on Denmark’s new Covid measures and the latest case numbers, which exceeded 11,000 today:

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Friday that theatres, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, museums and art galleries must shut down to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Frederiksen said stores smaller than 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet) and restaurants in Denmark also must limit their number of customers. The government is advising residents to limit social contacts over the Christmas holidays.
“We are not talking about shutting down the whole country as we did last year,” Frederiksen said.
The shutdown order requires parliamentary approval. Lawmakers on the Epidemic Committee meet Friday afternoon.
Like many other European countries, Denmark is seeing an uptick in Covid-19 cases, with health authorities saying the number of infections and hospitalisations has risen faster than expected.
The country reported 9,999 new cases on Thursday, and the number was above 11,000 on Friday, the prime minister said.
Last year, Denmark was one of the first European countries to close schools because of the pandemic.

Omicron could account for 80% of all new Covid cases in Portugal by the end of the month, the country’s health minister said today.
Marta Temido said that at the moment Omicron represented around 20% of cases, but said: “It may be of 50% in the Christmas week and 80% in the last week of the year.”
The country, which has one of the world’s highest Covid vaccination rates, reported 5,800 new infections on Wednesday in the highest daily jump since early February, but deaths and hospitalisations remained considerably lower than then, reports Reuters.
Temido did not announce new Covid restrictions, but said that “more mask-wearing, more testing, more vaccination, more border control” were needed.
Portugal currently requires all new arrivals to present a negative test. Remote working will be compulsory and schools will be closed in the first week of January. Yesterday, the prime minister, Antonio Costa, said those restrictions could be extended.

Switzerland announces tighter Covid restrictions

Switzerland has announced plans to tighten Covid measures - including working from home and entry restrictions for venues.
From Monday, the government said it will expand proof of vaccination or recovery to many indoor venues, including restaurants, reports Reuters.
For venues such as discos and bars, where masks are less likely to be worn, visitors will have to show a negative test result.
The new measures, which will be in effect until 24 January, will also require people to work from home and limit private gatherings to 10 people if any adults in attendance have not been vaccinated or recovered from Covid.
The Swiss government also said it is ordering 7 million doses each from Moderna and Pfizer and BioNTech for the second half of next year to increase its stockpile to 34 million doses.

Fire crews in London are facing “unprecedented” staff shortages due to Omicron, leaving almost a third of fire engines out of action, according to the UK’s Fire Brigades Union (FBU).
The union reports that staff shortages caused by Covid have left many fire engines out of action on several days in the last week.
Citing London Fire Brigade statistics, the union said that 40 of London’s 142 fire engines were unavailable on both the day and night shift yesterday and that the same situation applied for the 10, 11 and 15 December. Throughout the rest of the week, engine unavailability was generally above 30, the union said.
The union said that Covid has been “skyrocketing” among firefighters, with nearly 10% of operational firefighters having either tested positive or self-isolating. They said that yesterday 141 firefighters had tested positive and 283 were self-isolating.
The FBU fears that staffing levels could worsen amid a potential “mass exodus” of hundreds of staff ahead of pension changes in the new year.
Jon Lambe, the FBU London regional secretary, said:

The new Omicron variant is having a devastating impact on the London Fire Brigade. But let’s be very clear – this should not be affecting London Fire Brigade the way it is, with almost a third of our fire engines unavailable. The reason that’s happening is firefighter numbers being too low, due to the devastating cuts imposed on the London Fire Brigade since 2010. London has lost one in five of its firefighters, ten fire stations and 27 fire appliances since 2010, and seen huge cuts as a result of austerity such as almost 10% of its budget since 2016.

Lambe added:

Firefighters have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic assisting other agencies. Now, firefighters themselves need assistance and to be given the safety they require – they need to be appropriately resourced and ‘backed up’ at all times.

The Guardian has contacted London Fire Brigade for comment.

Booster could provide 85% protection against Omicron - study

UK researchers have analysed the likely impact a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and say it could provide about 85% protection against severe illness.
The protection is a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid, but it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital.
The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.
The researchers say there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real world information is gathered.
Experts are still trying to figure out how mild or severe Omicron is compared to Delta or other Covid variants.

UK records 3,201 new cases of Omicron

The UK has recorded 3,201 new cases of the Omicron variant, up from yesterday's figure of 1,691.
It takes the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 14,909 - although the true figure is believed to be much higher because not all labs can detect the variant and not everyone will come forward for testing.

French travel ban sees European rugby fixtures postponed

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle side were due to travel to play Bath on Saturday before the travel ban

We've just heard about Covid causing disruption in England's Premier League.
Now, it's been announced that five Heineken Champions Cup fixtures between French and British Rugby Union teams have been postponed this weekend, as well as two games from the European Challenge Cup.
The announcement follows the French government's decision on Thursday to ban all non-essential travel to and from the UK and to tighten testing requirements for travellers.
The French sports ministry told Reuters they had been "working on getting an exemption through meetings with the government's crisis unit".
Despite the decision, Welsh side Dragons will play Lyon tonight, with the French team due to return immediately after the game and before the border restrictions come into force.
The blanket postponement may cause some controversy as it comes after Saturday's clash between Ospreys and Racing 92 was cancelled due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Welsh side. Irish side Leinster had to forfeit their game against Montpellier for similar reasons.
The Irish side is said to be furious after organisers handed them 28-0 defeat for their inability to fulfil the fixture.

UK daily Omicron cases almost double to 3,201, bringing total to 14,909

The UK’s latest Omicron figures have been published.
There were an additional 3,201 confirmed cases today, reports the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), nearly twice the number of infections announced yesterday (yesterday it was 1,698).
The latest figures bring the total number of UK confirmed Omicron cases to 14,909.


Visitors from the UK will face the same pandemic rules entering Switzerland as any other travellers, the country’s health minister said today.
Speaking at a press conference, Alain Berset made the comments in response to a question about France’s entry restrictions for visitors from Britain, reports Reuters.

Tensions between the Irish government and its public health advisers are rising after it was suggested that all pubs should close at 5pm to combat the spread of the Omicron Covid variant,
Lisa O'Carroll - The Guardian
Government ministers are meeting members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (PHET) but are facing a backlash from the hospitality sector, which only saw the last of 20 months of restrictions eased in October with some reintroduced this month.
The deputy taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, tweeted “Omicron beginning to show in the figures, unfortunately” with the finance minister Paschal Donohoe saying some further restrictions are likely.

UK breaks Covid record for third consecutive day with 93,045 new cases

The UK reported 93,045 new Covid cases today, breaking the daily record for the third consecutive day.
There were also 111 new Covid deaths reported and 7,611 patients in hospital, 875 of whom were on beds with ventilators.
It comes after yesterday there were 88,376 new cases reported and 78,610 new cases the day before, both breaking all previous pandemic records.

Denmark imposes new Covid restrictions from 8am on Sunday

Following the prime minister’s earlier announcement of a partial shutdown, the Danish parliament has approved new Covid restrictions on public spaces, with most coming into force at 8am on Sunday.
The measures, announced by Mette Frederiksen earlier today, include the closure of theatres, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, museums and galleries and limitations on shops and restaurants, reports Reuters.
Shops and restaurants smaller than 2,000 square metres will have to impose limits on customer numbers and restaurants must stop serving food and alcoholic drinks at 10pm and close at 11pm.
The government is also advising people to limit social contacts over Christmas and urged people to work from home where possible.
“We are not talking about shutting down the whole country as we did last year,” Frederiksen said. “Our goal is still to keep as large sections of society open as possible. We need to curb activity. We all need to limit our social contacts.”
The country reported 9,999 new cases on Thursday, and the number was above 11,000 on Friday, the prime minister said.

What's the latest from China?

Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
Yesterday, China recorded its 100,000th case of Covid-19 since the very start of the pandemic.
There have only been 56 locally-transmitted cases of the virus in the last 24 hours. The majority of cases are in two hotspots: the eastern province of Zhejiang (which neighbours Shanghai), and the northern reaches of Inner Mongolia.
Cases have remained low in recent months in China, due to the country’s zero-Covid policy. This involves locking down communities the moment one person tests positive, and mass-testing large populations for any “silent carriers”.
Officials have projected that this strategy will remain in place until the spring.
The country is now introducing new restrictions ahead of the festive period. It is anticipating increased travel over Christmas, and ahead of the 2022 Lunar New Year, which will fall on 1 February.
Today, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is enforcing rules that cross-border provincial tourism be suspended if any cases are detected in land border cities or ports, in order to prevent cases at China’s borders spreading more inland.
Official media are also noting today that many areas, including the cities of Beijing and Xi’an, are making it a requirement that travellers in the new year show a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of travel.

Omicron reinfection risk 5.4 times higher than Delta - study

Some more now on the study we reported on earlier from Imperial College London.
Their researchers say the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than with the Delta variant.
The study suggests protection against reinfection by Omicron from past infection may be as low as 19%.
According to the data, boosters are vital in controlling Omicron, and could provide around 85% protection against severe illness, as we reported a short while ago.
But researchers say they may lose some effectiveness over time.
They estimate the proportion of Omicron among all Covid cases between 29 November and 11 December was doubling every two days up to 11 December.
Based on this, they also estimate the reproduction number (R) of Omicron was above 3, over the period studied.
Read more

 

Record daily UK coronavirus cases for third day in a row

A further 93,045 coronavirus cases have been reported in the UK, according to the government's daily figures .
There have also been another 111 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
The UK reported 88,376 cases yesterday.

Covid cases up nearly 39% week on week

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has increased by 132,836 or 38.6% in the last seven days, compared to the previous week, according to the government figures.
The number of daily deaths reported has decreased by 4.5% in the last seven days, compared to the previous week.
But it's worth remembering that it takes time for hospital admissions and deaths to show up in the figures after cases start to rise. And it's only been a few weeks since the first Omicron cases were identified in the UK.

Cases continue rising - and there's more to come

Robert Cuffe - BBC head of statistics
We were expecting these case figures to go up - and we can expect them to go up further.
The number of people getting tested is up about 20% in a week - but the case numbers are up about 40% in the same time.
And we can expect that to go up further because when you look at London and Scotland - the two parts of the UK where Omicron is furthest advanced - cases are rising even faster there.
So how long will it go on for? The modellers aren't sure yet.
They're talking about peaks early in the new year - if you keep on doubling and doubling and doubling cases, there'll eventually be more people getting infected than there are people in the UK - so there is a limit on this.
The real question - which still hasn't been answered - then becomes: how ill does it make people and how much pressure is it going to put on the healthcare system?

'Seeing that positive Covid test result was jarring'

We've been hearing today from people who have tested positive for Covid who will now have to isolate over Christmas. Cosmo Wilson is among those who will be spending Christmas away from family - for the second year running - after testing positive for Covid.
Last year the UK's travel restrictions meant he couldn't fly back to see his parents in Thailand, so he spent the festive season with friends in Nottingham instead.
This year he had been planning to stay with his sister and their aunt and uncle, in Uckfield, East Sussex.
But the 22-year-old waiter tested positive this week and his self-isolation ends as the clock ticks past midnight into Christmas Day. So he'll spend the day in London with a friend instead.
Cosmo says seeing the positive test result was a "jarring" moment.
"The main feeling was just disbelief," he tells Newsbeat.

'It's heartbreaking not to be with my family'

Molly Nancarrow felt "very stressed, anxious and overwhelmed" when her lateral flow test came back positive for Covid on Tuesday.
"I just can't believe this is happening," the 20-year-old tells Newsbeat.
Molly, who's a student at the University of Gloucestershire, says it's "heartbreaking" to be missing the build-up to Christmas with her family in Bath because the days before 25 December make the day itself "more magical".
"It's what gets me in the Christmas mood, spending time with my family. Being on my own is going to make it a little bit harder."
Instead of going on walks and visiting Christmas markets with her mum, step-dad and brothers, Molly's going to spend time on FaceTime with them instead.
She's waiting on a PCR test result, but no matter what comes back, she says she'll stay away from home until she's feeling better because her brothers are vulnerable.
Read more of Molly's story here.

Pubs and restaurants in Ireland reportedly set to get 8pm curfew under new proposals
Pubs and restaurants in Ireland are set to close at 8pm under new proposals (see also 16:02) going to cabinet this evening in response to Omicron, reports the Irish Independent.
The newspaper reports that the cabinet sub-committee has rejected a recommendation by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to close hospitality venues at 5pm, instead opting for 8pm.
It also reports that the curfew would also apply to hotel bars and restaurants as well as other indoor events.

Canada will lift the travel ban on people who have visited 10 African countries from 19 December
while all passengers returning from short foreign trips will be required to submit negative pre-arrival Covid-19 tests from 21 December, Reuters reports.

Swiss ski resorts are open for foreign visitors as long as they respect the rules that the government has introduced to try and break the momentum of the coronavirus pandemic, said health minister Alain Berset.
Reuters reported Berset’s comments:

“The government’s goal is to keep as much as possible functioning, of course under different conditions as if there were no pandemic.”

England reports 65 patients in hospital with Omicron

England had 65 patients in hospital with Omicron today, the UK Health Security Agency said.
The total number of deaths from the new variant in England remains unchanged at one, reports Reuters.

Care homes in England have been warned not to impose blanket visiting restrictions over Christmas.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care, said it is important for residents to be able to spend time with friends and family during the festive period.
It said it had received reports of some care homes have issued “general policy” on visiting and that it had taken action on 54 concerns about potential blanket bans, reports PA Media.
The Relatives and Residents Association, which supports people in care and their families, said it is “astonishing and simply unacceptable that the regulator has not taken a proactive role”.
Kate Terroni, CQC chief inspector of adult social care, said:

The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on many people and we know it has been particularly difficult for those who are living in care homes and their families and loved ones.
It is important that people are able to spend time with their loved ones over the festive season, including Christmas day and new year.

Recently updated government guidance limits visitor numbers who can visit regularly to three plus one essential caregiver. It said it expects and encourages providers to “facilitate visits wherever possible, and to do so in a risk-managed way”.

64% of local authority areas in the UK saw an increase in Covid rates last week, with the highest in Lambeth
Across the UK, 64% local authority areas have seen an increase in Covid rates week-on-week, while Lambeth in London has the highest rate in the UK.
According to an analysis by PA Media, Lambeth had 4,021 new cases in the seven days to Monday (13 December) - the equivalent of 1,249.5 per 100,000 people. Wandsworth and Southwark had the second and third highest rates, at 1,178.8 and 1,160.3 per 100,000 respectively.
The give UK areas with the biggest rises were all in London: Lambeth, Hackney and City of London, Southwark, Wandsworth and Islington.
Newry, Mourne and Down had the highest rate per 100,000 in Northern Ireland (758.0) and West Lothian had the highest in Scotland at 410.7. Isle of Anglesey had the highest rate in Wales at 665.8 per 100,000 people.

Ireland announces 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and 50% capacity limit on events
Ireland has announced an 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and a 50% limit on capacity for events in a bid to slow the spread of Omicron.
The new measures will come into force on Sunday (19 December) and remain in place until 30 January.
Announcing the measures, the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said Covid is “exploding throughout Europe.”
He said they are still “in the early days” but already it is “very clear” that they are dealing with a much more transmissible variant.
“It is here, it is in our country and we’re going to see a massive rise in infections. Already, in just a few days, more than a third of all new cases in the country are as a result of Omicron,” he said.
He added: “It spreads so aggressively throughout all age groups that we are likely to see infections at a rate that is far in excess of anything we have seen to date. It is that serious.”

Renewed concerns in Taiwan after outbreaks at quarantine hotels

Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
Seven Covid cases have been recorded in Taiwan today, and while by international standards this number might seem low, it is the highest number of cases in more than three months.
There has been renewed concern about a potential outbreak in Taiwan this week after clusters of cases were identified at two quarantine hotels: one in Taipei and one in Taoyuan.
Outbreaks amongst people on the same floors led to suspicions of cross-contamination, which have now been confirmed. As a result, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) has classified these cases as locally-transmitted.
These new cases have led to the CECC making it mandatory that all arrivals now undergo six Covid-19 tests. It has also urged increased inspections and ventilation at quarantine hotels.
Taiwan has consistently recorded a single case or zero cases since 20 September.
These latest developments come shortly on the heels of Taiwan reopening its borders, to allow an influx of people to return for the Lunar New Year.
Relaxed rules were introduced from Tuesday meaning that arrivals can stay a minimum of seven days at a quarantine facility, rather than the previously-mandated 14-days. This is on the condition that they self-isolate at home, and carry out regular PCR tests.

Denmark's government plans to introduce fresh restrictions

Denmark's prime minister has announced that her government intends to propose new restrictions to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus and the new Omicron variant, which now accounts for a fifth of all cases registered in the country.
Denmark has seen cases rise rapidly over the past week and daily infections broke another record on Friday as 11,194 Covid cases were recorded. The country has recorded a total of 9,009 Omicron infections so far.
"In record time, the rules of the game have again been changed," Mette Frederiksen said at a news conference on Friday.
The new restrictions, which will need approval from parliament, include plans to close a host of venues such as theatres, cinemas, entertainment parks and conference centres.
Frederiksen also proposed to ban the serving of alcohol after 22:00 local time and urged Danes to limit their social contacts in the run up to Christmas.
Despite the increase in cases, the country is in a better position than it was last Christmas, with death rates and hospital admissions significantly below the previous peak.

What's the latest on Omicron?

Philippa Roxby - Health reporter, BBC News
New data on Omicron has been released by the UK Health Security Agency based on people infected so far.
It shows that 18% of people with Omicron infected someone else in their household, compared to 10% of people who tested positive with Delta.
The percentage of people infecting others outside their household was also higher for Omicron than for Delta - nearly 9% compared to 3%.
People are also more likely to be reinfected with Omicron after having had a previous coronavirus infection.
And studies show that lateral flow tests are just as good at detecting Omicron as they are at detecting the Delta variant of the virus.
As a result, health officials are urging people to test regularly, particularly before attending social gatherings.

For now the UK remains on the "high risk areas" list
Earlier today a spokesperson for the German health ministry said the government was considering classifying the UK as a “virus variant area” following the rapid rise of Omicron in the country (see also 11:19) and said the government was expected to make a decision later today.
No news on that as yet, but the latest update to the designation of international risk areas by the Robert Koch Institut this evening did not feature any new countries in the virus variant areas list. For now, the UK remains on the “high risk areas” list.

Hundreds off work ill at leading London hospital as Omicron cases surge
Omicron is having a significant impact on staff at a large hospital trust in England with hundreds off work due to illness, leading to the cancellation of non-essential services to tackle a surge in admissions driven by the variant.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ trust (GSTT) in London is preparing to redeploy staff to work in its A&E and intensive care units to cover for the growing number of staff who are off work sick.
It has seen the number of hospitalised patients with Covid it is treating jump by a third over the last week and is bracing itself for worse to come in the days ahead.
Read more.

Spain’s coronavirus infection rate rose above 500 cases per 100,000 people on Friday, crossing over the threshold considered “very high risk” by the country’s health ministry.
The rate has more than doubled since the start of December, Reuters reports.
On Friday the infection rate, or incidence, as measured over the preceding 14 days, was 511 cases per 100,000, up 38 points on Thursday’s 473. There were 33,359 new infections and 41 deaths according to Health Ministry data.
Roughly 80% of Spain’s population of 47 million has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and some 10 million have received booster shots.

Here’s a reminder of today’s main coronavirus headlines from the UK and around the world:

• The UK reported record daily coronavirus cases for the third day in a row - a further 93,045 cases, according the government's daily figures
  
• UK researchers say a Covid booster shot could provide around 85% protection against severe illness from Omicron - a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid
  
• The study from Imperial College London also finds the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than with the Delta variant
  
• No 10 lockdown party inquiry chief Simon Case is facing questions over a staff "party” that was held at his office last year
  
• Nightclubs in Wales must close from 27 December and social distancing will be required in shops and workplaces because the "storm of Omicron" is coming, First Minister Mark Drakeford says
  
• In Scotland, new regulations requiring businesses to take steps to minimise the spread of Covid have come into force
  
• Ports are reporting long queues to board ferries and Eurostar has advised ticketless customers not to come to St Pancras station ahead of a ban on most travel to France coming into force at 23:00 (GMT)
  
• Half of this weekend's Premier League matches have been postponed due to Covid outbreaks
  
• And five Heineken Champions Cup fixtures between French and British Rugby Union teams have also been postponed, as well as two games from the European Challenge Cup, due to French travel restrictions on the UK
  
• China recorded its 100,000th case of Covid-10 since the very start of the pandemic
  
• South Africa's health minister says his government believes vaccines and previous Covid infections are contributing to the wave of milder disease caused by the Omicron variant
  
• Austria is temporarily relaxing restrictions on unvaccinated citizens amid falling case numbers
  
• Ireland has announced an 8pm curfew for hospitality venues and a 50% limit on capacity for events in a bid to slow the spread of Omicron. The new measures will come into force on Sunday (19 December) and remain in place until 30 January.
  
• England had 65 patients in hospital with Omicron today, the UK Health Security Agency said. The total number of deaths from the new variant in England remains unchanged at one.
  
• The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, said there needs to be “swift engagement with the treasury” on Covid-19 support funds during a phone call with Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. A spokesperson for Sturgeon told PA Media the call was constructive “though at this stage inconclusive” and that they “shared respective views on the current Omicron situation and agreed that it represents a significant threat to health and the economy”.
  
• The risk of reinfection from Omicron is more than five times higher than Delta and shows no sign of being milder than the previous coronavirus variant, according to a study by Imperial College London. The results, based on data from the UK Health Security Agency and Britain’s National Health Service, analysed people who tested positive for Covid-19 in a PCR test in England between 29 November and 11 December.
  
• The UK reported 93,045 new Covid cases today, breaking the daily record for the third consecutive day. There were also 111 new Covid deaths reported and 7,611 patients in hospital, 875 of whom were on beds with ventilators.
  
• There were an additional 3,201 confirmed Omicron cases in the UK today, reports the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), nearly twice the number of infections announced yesterday (yesterday it was 1,691).
  
• Thousands of British tourists rushed to travel to France today in an attempt to beat the country’s ban on UK travellers, due to start at 11pm tonight. There were long queues at the port of Dover, reports PA Media, as people brought their Christmas travel plans forward in a bid to avoid the new restrictions.
  
• The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, played down claims of disagreement with England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, over public advice on Covid as he warned of a “big wave of Omicron”. He said that Omicron is “a very serious threat to us now” and urged people to get booster jabs.
  
• Switzerland has announced plans to tighten Covid measures - including working from home and entry restrictions for venues. From Monday, the government said it will expand proof of vaccination or recovery to many indoor venues, including restaurants, reports Reuters. For venues such as discos and bars, where masks are less likely to be worn, visitors will have to show a negative test result.
  
• Omicron could account for 80% of all new Covid cases in Portugal by the end of the month, the country’s health minister said today.
  
• England’s R value has risen to 1.0-1.2, the UK government said. An R value of between 1.0 and 1.2 means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 12 people.
  
• The Danish prime minister today said her government would introduce new Covid restrictions, including closing theatres and cinemas, to try to control its spread. Mette Frederiksen said Omicron now accounts for a fifth of all coronavirus cases in Denmark.
  
• The German health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said he expects the Omicron variant to lead to a “massive fifth wave” of the pandemic. Lauterbach, a former epidemiology professor, said during a visit to the Lower Saxony region that Germany must prepare for a challenge “that we have never seen in this form before”, reports Reuters.
  
• Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that Omicron is now the dominant Covid variant in Scotland, making up 51.4% of cases. She said that Omicron has “now replaced Delta” as the dominant Covid strain circulating in Scotland.
  
• The German government is looking into whether the UK should be classified as a “virus variant area”, reports Reuters, following the rapid rise of Omicron in the country. Classification as a virus variant area would mean that travellers arriving in Germany from the UK would be required to quarantine for two weeks, even if they are vaccinated.