Coronavirus - 21st December 2021

Summary for Tuesday, 21st December

• If new data show Omicron cases and hospital admissions continuing to rise fast, the UK government will have to act, a scientist says
  
• Otherwise the sheer number of people in hospital will put too much pressure on the system, Sir Jeremy Farrar says
  
• Hospitality and entertainment firms meanwhile call for a clear decision on any further Covid restrictions in England
  
• UK Hospitality says firms are "in limbo" and need notice of any changes ahead of the new year
  
• Ministers met to consider new measures on Monday but none were announced
  
• The World Health Organization is urging people to cancel some holiday plans as the Omicron variant spreads globally
  
• And the Queen has cancelled her traditional Christmas at Sandringham as a Covid precaution
  
• Spectators will be banned from all sports events in Wales from Boxing Day
  

Good morning

Welcome to today's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and around the world.
Here are some of the headlines this morning:

• Hospitality and entertainment firms are calling for a clear decision on any further Covid restrictions in England in the coming days
  
• Ministers met to consider new measures on Monday but none were announced and the PM says data is being reviewed "hour by hour"
  
• The World Health Organization is urging people to cancel some of their holiday plans as the Omicron variant spreads globally
  
• The Queen has cancelled her traditional Christmas in Sandringham in Norfolk, amid concerns about the rising levels of the Omicron variant
  
• Spectators will be banned from all sports events in Wales from Boxing Day
  
• The UK has recorded its second highest daily total of Covid cases with 91,743 new infections on Monday
  
• The Omicron variant is spreading faster than Delta and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
  
• Travellers to Hong Kong from Britain will have to initially quarantine in a government camp from Tuesday, joining 12 African nations and the United States on the city-state’s strictest entry tier, Agence France-Presse reports.
  
• Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has rejected a return to Covid lockdowns.
  
• New Zealand has announced a suite of measures to strengthen its defence against the Omicron variant, including pushing back the start of its quarantine-free border reopening for its citizens returning from Australia to the end of February.
  
• The Chinese city of Xi’an began testing millions of residents for the coronavirus on Tuesday after the detection of 42 new cases.
  
• Singapore has detected a cluster of three Covid-19 cases linked to a gym, its ministry of health said late on Monday.
  
• The White House says US president Joe Biden had close contact with a staff member who later tested positive for the coronavirus and is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.
  
• Health officials in Texas say the state has recorded the first death related to the Omicron Covid variant. It is believed to be the first known recorded Omicron death in the United States.
  
• Omicron is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the US, federal health officials said on Monday, racing ahead of Delta and other variants and accounting for 73% of new infections last week.
  
• Los Angeles has called off its New Year’s Eve celebrations as the Omicron variant sweeps across the US.
  
• The World Health Organisation declared 2022 to be the year ‘we end the pandemic’ while sounding a new warning about the Omicron variant, arguing some events over the festive period should be postponed.
  
• The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that holiday festivities would in many places lead to “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths” and urged people to postpone gatherings.
  “An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
  
• In a blow to those wanting to join in on the celebrations in England’s capital, London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced the New Year’s Eve celebration event scheduled in Trafalgar Square will not go ahead because of the surge in Omicron cases.
  The event was set to host 6,500 key workers and members of the public but has been cancelled “in the interests of public safety,” Khan said.
  

Firms urge PM to be clear on any Christmas changes

Hospitality and entertainment firms are calling for a clear decision from the government on whether to expect further Covid restrictions in England in the coming days.
After a two-hour Cabinet meeting on Monday, the prime minister said the government was "looking at all kinds of things" to keep the Omicron variant under control and "ruled nothing out".
There were still some things "we need to be clearer about before we decide to go further", he added.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, which represents more than 700 bars, hotels and leisure venues, says some have lost about half of their usual December trade.
She says businesses are now "in limbo" and needed notice of any changes ahead of the New Year.

New year ‘too late’ for extra Covid rules in England, scientists say

Linda Geddes - The Guardian
Scientists have reacted with dismay to Boris Johnson’s decision not to impose fresh restrictions to curb the spread of Omicron, emphasising that waiting until the new year would “almost certainly be too late to have a material impact on the epidemic”.
Because the rate of growth in infection rates may already have plateaued or fallen by then, it may also be too late to know what impact those restrictions would have had if they had been introduced earlier. “We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” said Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia.
The prime minister announced after a cabinet meeting that he would not be introducing any further Covid restrictions for now, adding: “The situation is extremely difficult and the arguments either way are very, very finely balanced.”
Data on the hospitalisation rate for those infected with the Omicron variant would be kept under “constant review”, he said, with government sources hinting that further restrictions were likely after Christmas, possibly starting a week tomorrow.
Read the full story here.

Omicron sees events cancelled across UK

The continuing sharp rise in UK coronavirus case numbers driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant is already affecting events across the country:
• The New Year's Eve celebration in London's Trafalgar Square for 6,500 key workers and members of the public is cancelled in the interest of public safety
• The Queen calls off her traditional festive stay at Sandringham and will stay at Windsor
• London's Natural History Museum and Edinburgh Castle temporarily close due to coronavirus-related staff shortages
• Almost half of London's major theatres cancel performances this weekend including Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King
• Premier League and English Football League clubs will fulfil their festive fixtures despite disruption, as players test positive

Barts' warning comes with surge in NHS absences in London

Barts Health NHS Trust in London has written to doctors warning it may have to cancel “some or much” of its planned operations in January to cope with the coming Covid surge, caused by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, the BBC understands.
The trust is one of the largest in England and runs five hospitals in the City of London and the east of the capital.
Its warning comes after Chris Hopson, chief executive officer of NHS Providers, which represents hospital bosses, told the BBC on Monday that London was seeing a "very significant increase" in staff absences at hospital.
He said staff absences jumped from 1,900 at the beginning of last week to 4,700 by Thursday last week - and this has gone up further since.
Hopson previously warned that some trusts were having to postpone "non-essential activity" as a result.

Scotland considers cancelling major events

As England awaits news from the government on any further Covid restrictions to slow the spread of Omicron, Scotland is considering whether to cancel major events.
A decision will made at a cabinet meeting this morning on crowded events - like Hogmanay street parties, concerts and major sporting fixtures.
It will be announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at about 14:20 GMT.
Sturgeon has already said there will be no change to the rules or advice around Christmas Day.
We will bring you updates as we have them.

Train services cancelled due to staff absence

Katy Austin - Business Correspondent

West Midlands Railway said its driver training programme had been severely affected by the pandemic

A number of rail operators are cancelling services due to Covid-related staff absences.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is implementing an amended timetable this week because of absent drivers and train managers. Sixteen services per day between London King’s Cross and Leeds and London King’s Cross and Lincoln will not run.
Customers are being offered refunds or re-booking free of charge.
Northern’s website warns services are being affected by Covid-related absences and are being cancelled at short notice.
West Midlands Railway also says it is running fewer trains. As well as rising Covid rates affecting its workforce, the firm's driver training programme has been severely disrupted by the pandemic and social distancing constraints, it says.
CrossCountry has been warning of disruption due to train crew availability for several weeks. This morning it told passengers trains may not run due to staff shortages.
ScotRail cancelled more than 100 services on Monday, while on Friday, Avanti West Coast told the BBC that the pandemic was resulting in staff shortages and there may be short-notice cancellations.

All sports events in Wales to go behind closed doors

In Wales, spectators will be banned from all sports events from 26 December to try to control the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Welsh government said it will apply to all indoor, outdoor, professional and community sports events.
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said a £3m spectator sports fund will be available to support clubs and venues.
Ministers will meet later on Tuesday to discuss post-Christmas hospitality restrictions.
Read more.

Trafalgar Square New Year's Eve event cancelled

London's New Year's Eve celebration event in Trafalgar Square will not go ahead because of the surge in Omicron Covid variant cases in the capital.
Mayor Sadiq Khan says the event, for 6,500 key workers and members of the public, is being cancelled "in the interests of public safety".
Instead, there will be a live broadcast celebrating London and its defining moments of 2021 and Khan is urging people to watch it from home.
It comes after the Mayor declared a major incident in the capital. He says London has recorded more than 65,500 new confirmed Covid cases in the past seven days. It has caused a 29% increase in London hospital admissions in the last week.

Ministers wait for crucial Covid data

Jim Reed - Health reporter, BBC News
Last week, public health officials said they would need to see at least 250 hospital admissions with Omicron before being able to come to any early judgement about how severe this new variant is in people who catch it.
We are probably getting close to that point now. The latest statistics show there were 129 confirmed Omicron cases in English hospitals on Saturday and numbers are likely to have risen since then.
The BBC understands that a team at Imperial College are working on this kind of severity analysis at the moment - it is likely to form a key part of ministers’ decision making over the next few days.
The number needing hospital treatment in London, seen as the epicentre of England's outbreak, has been going up recently - 210 people were admitted with Covid last Saturday compared with 166 the previous week.
But as Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter pointed out on Channel 4 News last night, a significant proportion of those will have gone to A&E for a non-Covid reason and tested positive on arrival. The sheer size of the outbreak in London makes that more likely.
There are also some very early, tentative signs that the numbers needing Covid hospital care in the capital might be below the levels expected given the number of infections in the city.

Kuwait will require travellers arriving to the country to have a Covid booster shot if more than nine months have passed since their vaccination,
the government communication centre said in a tweet on Monday.
The procedures are to be followed for those arriving to Kuwait as of 26 December, the announcement said.
Kuwait will also require incoming travellers to quarantine at home for 10 days unless they receive a negative PCR test for the coronavirus within 72 hours of their arrival.

India has recorded 200 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant across 12 states, mostly in the western state of Maharashtra and the nation’s capital New Delhi,
the health ministry said on Tuesday.
The country’s tally of Omicron cases has nearly doubled within a week, but there have been no deaths reported so far. In less than 40% of cases, patients either fully recovered or were discharged, the data showed.
India has been accelerating its vaccination campaign amid fears of potential surges in infections, with at least one dose given to 87% of the eligible 944 million adults.
India recorded 5,326 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, the lowest overnight tally in more than one and a half years. Overall, the country has reported 34.75 million cases, the second-highest behind only the United States.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told parliament on Monday that 80% of Omicron cases were asymptomatic.

Iran’s top diplomat to Yemen died on Tuesday after reportedly contracting coronavirus,
Iranian state TV has said, just days after he was abruptly recalled from his mission in the war-torn nation.
The Associated Press reports:

State-run media in Iran said Ambassador Hassan Irloo had become infected with the coronavirus in Yemen, where a conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led military coalition has raged for six years. Authorities said he was flown out of the country for urgent medical treatment in Iran over the weekend.

However, The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that Irloo was being removed from his post over growing strains between Iran and the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north in 2014. In an effort to oust the Iran-backed rebels on its southern border, Saudi Arabia intervened in the war months later with a U.S.-backed bombing campaign.

Iran’s foreign ministry has denied that his departure was the result of tensions with the Houthis.

Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam offered his condolences on Monday. He said earlier this week that the ambassador had departed Sanaa on an Iraqi flight made possible despite a Saudi air blockade on the capital through “an Iranian-Saudi understanding via Baghdad.”

Hassan Irloo attends a Mawlid celebration at a square in Sana’a, Yemen. Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA

Germany’s leaders are set to decide on new restrictions to come in after Christmas aimed at slowing the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid, but plans so far fall short of a full lockdown.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany’s 16 state governors plan to consult later on Tuesday after the government’s new panel of experts called for action to be taken within days and said that nationwide measures are needed, “in particular well-planned and well-communicated contact restrictions”.”
Officials have said that nightclubs will likely be closed regardless of local infection rates, on which closures currently depend. There are likely to be further restrictions on crowds at major events, while new contact restrictions are expected to be introduced for vaccinated people — with gatherings reportedly to be capped at 10 people.
Restrictions already in place target mainly the unvaccinated, with proof of vaccination or recovery required to enter non-essential stores among other things.

Thailand reinstates mandatory Covid quarantine

Some breaking news has just come in from Thailand.
The country will reinstate its mandatory Covid quarantine for foreign visitors and scrap a quarantine waiver from Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reported.
The move was confirmed by a government spokeswoman who said the action was being taken due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Man who breached quarantine and sparked Hobart lockdown sentenced to five months in jail

In Australia, a NSW man who absconded from hotel quarantine in Hobart and sparked a three-day lockdown across southern Tasmania has been sentenced to five months’ jail for breaching public health orders.
Much of the island state, including the capital, was forced into lockdown on 15 October after Timothy Andrew Gunn, 31, returned a positive coronavirus test having spent time in the community.
He had been directed to quarantine at Hobart’s Travelodge hotel for two weeks when he landed several days earlier on a flight from Melbourne.
Gunn told emergency staff he had been in Queensland for the 14 days before arriving when he had in fact spent time in NSW. Tasmania had banned travel from NSW at the time.
Gunn had earlier pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the lawful direction of an emergency management worker, and knowingly providing false or misleading information.
He was sentenced in Hobart magistrates court on Tuesday to five months’ jail, with two of those suspended.
Read more.

Hungary rejoins the EU's Covid vaccine procuremen process

Hungary has decided to rejoin the European Union’s Covid vaccine procurement process to shield its population from the Omicron variant, ordering 9.5 million doses of the jab developed by BioNTech and Pfizer .
Prime Minister Viktor Orban also told a news conference on Tuesday that he expected the European Commission would publish a clear stance before the end of the year including nuclear energy in its “sustainable finance taxonomy”, a rulebook that will restrict which activities can be labelled as climate friendly investments.

Growing concerns in Spain

Sam Jones - The Guardian
Concerns are growing in Spain as the country prepares to enter the Christmas season without a clear plan. The sixth wave of Covid has sent infection rates soaring – the number of cases per 100,000 people hit 609 on Monday, up from 381 a week ago and 290 a fortnight ago.
The surge is already putting some hospitals and medical centres under strain. Although the proportion of ICU beds occupied by Covid patients stands at 15.5% nationally, it rises to 25% in the Basque Country and almost 30% in Catalonia.
The prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has urged people to remain calm but called an emergency meeting of Spain’s regional presidents on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the response. Some regional administrations are already taking their own measures. On Monday, the Catalan government said it was seeking legal permission to introduce a curfew between 1am and 6am that would begin on Friday and last for two weeks. It also plans to close nightclubs and limit gatherings to 10 people.
In Madrid – where the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has fiercely resisted restrictions, arguing they are too damaging economically – school authorities have called on the regional government to “urgently” consider shutting schools two days before the end of term to help counter the spread of infections.

Children queue with their families to receive the first dose of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a walk in clinic at Sculptor Alberto Sanchez Public School on December 15, 2021 in Toledo, Spain. Photograph: Pablo Blázquez Domínguez/Getty Images

Doctors in the capital and the surrounding region have also warned that immediate action must be taken to stave off collapse as the highly infectious omicron strain accounts for 60% of new infections.
The Official College of Madrid Doctors said trying to control the spread of the variant through nothing but testing and isolation risked collapsing the region’s primary care system. It called for restrictions on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces such as bars and restaurants, and caps on social gatherings. The college also said that the vaccination of school-age children needed to be brought forward to help arrest the spread of the new strain.

Germany to introduce new contact restrictions around New Year's Eve

Philip Oltermann - The Guardian
Germany looks set to introduce new contact restrictions around New Year’s eve, as chancellor Olaf Scholz and the federal heads of state meet this afternoon to discuss ways to protect the country’s essential services from being overwhelmed by an anticipated new wave driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant.
A draft proposal, seen by several German papers, proposes banning gatherings of more than ten people, closing clubs and discotheques and holding larger sports events behind closed doors from at least 28 December.
Children under the age of 14 are exempt from the rule, while unvaccinated people are already only allowed to meet no more than two people from outside their own household.
Germany’s rates of new infections and deaths have dropped over the last week, but the government’s council of scientific advisers has warned the expected spread of the Omicron variant will soon create “extreme pressure” not just on hospital’s emergency care unit but critical infrastructure like police, fire services and delivery services.
The new measures come as the country continues to debate the introduction of a general vaccine mandate in the spring, with parliament likely to hold a free vote on the subject early in the new year.
Justice minister Marco Buschmann, of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), said there would likely be three motions that delegates will vote on: a general mandate that would see fines for those who continue to resist vaccination, an outright rejection of a general mandate, and a compromise whereby a vaccine mandate would be phased in by age groups.
Chancellor Scholz and finance minister Lindner have indicated their support for a general mandate, while a group of around 30 FDP delegates have said they would outright reject a general mandate.

Dutch border-hoppers ignore Belgium and Germany’s ‘stay away’ plea
Daniel Boffey - The Guardian
People hopping over the border to Belgium and Germany to avoid the Dutch lockdown are filling the neighbouring countries’ restaurants and shops despite calls for them to “stay away”.
Since Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, announced the closure of hospitality and non-essential shops from Sunday, border regions have experienced a rush of visitors.
While the hospitality industry in the Netherlands is shuttered, Belgium has resisted scientists’ calls for stricter measures, with restaurants open until 11pm to customers who can prove full vaccination. The German Länder, or states, have been given the power to close restaurants but such measures are generally yet to be enforced.
At a meeting with the governor of the Belgian province of Antwerp, Cathy Berx, on Monday, local mayors expressed their concern about the potential spread of the Omicron variant due to border-hopping.
Berx said: “Letting this happen is the shortest route to a closure of the catering industry, and nobody wants that. And so the friendly but firm appeal is: don’t come to cafes or restaurants in the province of Antwerp now.”
Read more.

Catalonia is preparing to become the first Spanish region to reinstate serious limitations given the latest spike in infections in a country that is among the world leaders in vaccination.
Health authorities have asked the courts to authorise a battery of measures including a new nightly curfew between 1am and 6am, a limit of 10 people per social gathering, the closure of night clubs, and capping restaurants at 50% of seating indoors and stores, gyms and theatres to 70% capacity.
If approved by the courts, they would take effect on Friday and last for 15 days in the northeast region surrounding Barcelona.

Queues of up to three hours at the Semat Healthcare Centre for testing and other covid tests on December 20, 2021 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Photograph: Europa Press News/Europa Press/Getty Images

Regional health chief Josep Argimon said that the measures are needed because of the arrival of the more contagious omicron variant. “Infections have grown 100% over the past week,” he said.

DUP leader Donaldson tests positive

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has tested positive for coronavirus after returning to Northern Ireland from London.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's health service is facing its "worst winter ever" as the Omicron variant continues to spread, trade unions say.

Round-up of the top Covid news stories from around the world so far today...

• The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that holiday festivities would in many places lead to “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths” and urged people to postpone gatherings.
  
• Covid vaccine maker Moderna does not expect any problems in developing a booster shot to protect against the Omicron variant of coronavirus and could begin work in a few weeks, chief executive Stephane Bancel said in an interview.
  
• Catalonia is preparing to become the first Spanish region to reinstate serious limitations given the latest spike in infections in a country that is among the world leaders in vaccination.
  
• New Zealand plans to shorten the gap between second Covid vaccine doses and boosters, as well as pushing back the phased reopening of its borders.
  
• Germany looks set to introduce new contact restrictions around New Year’s Eve, as chancellor Olaf Scholz and the federal heads of state meet this afternoon to discuss ways to protect the country’s essential services from being overwhelmed by an anticipated new wave driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant.
  
• In Australia, a NSW man who absconded from hotel quarantine in Hobart and sparked a three-day lockdown across southern Tasmania has been sentenced to five months’ jail for breaching public health orders.
  
• Thailand will reinstate its mandatory Covid quarantine for foreign visitors and scrap a quarantine waiver from Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reported.
  
• India has recorded 200 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant across 12 states, mostly in the western state of Maharashtra and the nation’s capital New Delhi, the health ministry said on Tuesday.
  
• Concerns are growing in Spain as the country prepares to enter the Christmas season without a clear plan. The sixth wave of Covid has sent infection rates soaring – the number of cases per 100,000 people hit 609 on Monday, up from 381 a week ago and 290 a fortnight ago.
  
• People hopping over the border to Belgium and Germany to avoid the Dutch lockdown are filling the neighbouring countries’ restaurants and shops despite calls for them to “stay away”.
  
• Hungary has decided to rejoin the European Union’s Covid vaccine procurement process to shield its population from the Omicron variant, ordering 9.5m doses of the jab developed by BioNTech and Pfizer.
  

About one in four local authority areas in the UK are recording their highest rate of new Covid-19 cases since mass testing began in summer 2020, new analysis shows.
PA reports:

The areas include two-thirds of authorities in London, more than half in south-east England and nearly a half in eastern England.

Most of the rest of the country has yet to reach record levels, however, with only a handful of areas in the north and west seeing rates at an all-time high.

The figures, which have been compiled by the PA news agency, show that:

- 21 of the 32 local authorities in London now have record Covid-19 case rates, with the capital accounting for the top 10 highest rates in the UK and 20 of the top 25.

- Four London areas have rates above 2,000 cases per 100,000 people: Lambeth (2,461.4), Wandsworth (2361.9), Hackney and City of London (2,096.8) and Southwark (2,064.0)

- In south-east England, 37 of the 64 local authorities are now seeing record rates, led by Elmbridge (1,384.7), Reigate and Banstead (1,317.3) and Epsom and Ewell (1,271.6), all of which are in Surrey.

- 21 of the 45 local authorities in eastern England have record case rates, including St Albans (1,311.3) and Cambridge (1,177.0).

These are not the highest rates in the region, however - Brentwood (1,460.3) and Thurrock (1,342.2) in Essex are higher, though this is slightly below the record for both areas, which was set during the second wave of the virus last winter.

- 12 of the 40 areas in the East Midlands are at a record high, led by South Northamptonshire (970.8), Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire (917.8) and Charnwood in Leicestershire (916.6)

All figures are for the seven days to 16 December, as data for more recent days is still incomplete.

In total, 102 of the 377 local authority areas in the UK (27%) are now recording their highest Covid-19 case rates since mass testing was rolled out across the country in May and June 2020.

Figures for case rates in the early months of the pandemic are not directly comparable, as only a small number of people were being tested, mostly in hospitals and care homes.

Of the 102 areas, only 11 are outside the south and east: six in north-west England (Bury, Cheshire West and Chester, Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Trafford); three in Scotland (East Lothian, Edinburgh and West Lothian); one in Northern Ireland (Ards and North Down); and one in the West Midlands (Newcastle-under-Lyme).

The contrast between the south and east and the north and west reflects the way the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has spread in recent weeks - in particular how London was the first area of the UK where Omicron became the dominant variant of the virus.

Although nine in 10 local authorities in the UK are currently recording a week-on-week rise in rates, most areas in the north and west of the country have yet to hit levels seen during the second wave of the virus.

But this could change in the days and weeks ahead, once Omicron has become the dominant variant in all parts of the country.

US plans to avoid a lockdown

US president Joe Biden plans to avoid a lockdown and instead increase support for hospitals, improve access to Covid-19 testing through hundreds of millions of rapid at-home tests and expand the availability of vaccines that can reduce the risks from the Omicron variant.
A senior administration official, insisting on anonymity, provided details on the proposals Biden will announce in his speech Tuesday afternoon, the Associated Press reports.
The administration is prepared to deploy an additional 1,000 troops in medical professions to hospitals as well as direct federal medical personnel to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, New Hampshire and Vermont.
There are also plans to send out additional ventilators and equipment from the national stockpile besides expanding hospital capacity to handle infected patients.
The government will purchase 500 million rapid at-home tests to be delivered for free to the homes of Americans who request them, and put up new testing sites and use the Defense Production Act to help manufacture more tests.
In a preview of Biden’s speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at Monday’s press briefing that the president doesn’t plan to impose any lockdowns and will instead be encouraging people to get vaccinated — and, if they’re eligible, to get their booster shot.

“This is not a speech about locking the country down. This is a speech about the benefits of being vaccinated,” Psaki told reporters.

US president Joe Biden meets with members of the White House Covid-19 Response Team on developments related to Omicron variant on 16 December, 2021. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Biden’s top medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said over the weekend that Biden will issue “a stark warning of what the winter will look like” for unvaccinated Americans.
Psaki said Biden has tested negative twice since Sunday and will test again on Wednesday, after he had been in close contact with a staff member on Air Force One who later tested positive for Covid-19.
There are 40 million eligible but unvaccinated American adults. Psaki said the president plans to appeal to survival instincts.
“Our health experts assess that you are 14 times more likely to die of Covid if you have not been vaccinated versus vaccinated,” she said Monday.
The Omicron variant has already become the dominant strain in the US, accounting for nearly three-quarters of new infections last week.
Early studies suggest that the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing an omicron infection but that even without the extra dose, vaccination should still largely protect people from serious sickness or death.

In New York City, nearly 42,600 people citywide tested positive from Wednesday through Saturday last week, compared with fewer than 35,800 in the entire month of November
AP reports:
The city has never had so many people test positive in such a short period of time since testing became widely available.
On Saturday, the state of New York recorded the highest number of daily Covid cases since the pandemic began.
Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to not be complacent, get vaccinated and boostered once eligible and wear a mask.


There is no clear picture of how many people got the virus during the city’s first surge in the spring of 2020.

People line up for Covid-19 tests while a street performer waits for customer next to the mobile testing site on Times Square in New York, US, on 20 December, 2021. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

Germany’s Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases recommended on Tuesday that “maximum contact restrictions” should be imposed immediately, to curb a surge in infections caused by the Omicron variant.
Among the body’s other recommendations, which applied through mid-January 2022, were restricting travel only to what was absolutely necessary, accelerating the vaccination campaign and ensuring that enough free coronavirus tests were available, Reuters reports.
Federal and state leaders are expected to meet later on Tuesday to decide on new measures, which are likely to include contact restrictions even for the vaccinated and those who have recovered from an infection, but a nationwide lockdown seemed to be off the agenda on Tuesday morning.
The RKI reported 23,428 new infections on Tuesday, and 462 deaths, taking Germany’s total to 108,814.

New Zealand pushes back border plans

Officials in New Zealand have pushed back plans to allow quarantine-free travel for residents returning from Australia.
The country - which responded to the pandemic with strict border rules - blamed caution about the spread of Omicron for the delay.
Chris Hipkins, the Covid response minister, said he knew the delay would be "disappointing news" but said "opening the border in mid-January as planned" presents "too high a risk".
The rules aim to see vaccinated visitors eventually able to come into the country again after two years of being locked out by restrictions.

Taoiseach rules out mandatory Covid-19 vaccination in Ireland
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has ruled out introducing mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations in Ireland.
Speaking on Newstalk, the Taoiseach admitted the country was facing "a very challenging January" as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly.
However, he said the success of the vaccination programme, current restrictions and people modifying their behaviour has made Ireland better prepared for a new variant.
According to latest government figures, almost 7.5million vaccines have been administered and more than 90 per cent of the population over 12 are fully vaccinated.

'Voluntary approach achieved enormous amount'

"I'm personally of the view that we stick with the voluntary system," the Taoiseach told Newstalk.
"It's worked in Ireland, more than anywhere else in the world at 94 per cent fully vaccinated.
"You go across Europe and you're looking at 60 per cent vaccination in some places.
"Some of those countries are now talking about mandatory vaccination — there's no guarantee that will work, by the way, in itself."
I was listening to one Prime Minister talking about fines of €600 every three months — that's what a mandatory regime looks like.
"In my view, we have to keep pushing the voluntary approach which has achieved an enormous amount."
The Taoiseach accepted that unvaccinated people had taken up a disproportionate amount of health services but said the government had increased efforts to target specific groups historically resistant to vaccination.
"On balance, I think we should keep going with the approach that we’ve adopted so far," added the Taoiseach.

'No guarantees'

Latest figures show there have been more than 1.6million booster vaccines administered in Ireland and the Taoiseach cited its success in managing the Omicron variant.
"The fact that we’ve a very robust booster campaign with a lot of momentum will give us significant protection, so I think we can get through this," he said.
"There's many twists and turns, there's no guarantees.
"One cannot be certain, but I think the combination of the booster campaign with modification in our behaviour and the restrictions that have been introduced, you combine all of that and I would like to think we will be in a better position compared to last year in the context of a new variant arising on the scene."
Martin said the booster campaign combined with a 20-30 per cent reduction in levels of socialisation would give Ireland a "very good chance" of managing Omicron.

Many Britons self-policing to save Christmas

Todays announcement comes as many in the UK are already policing their own coronavirus restrictions to avoid self-isolating over Christmas.
Just over 4 in 10 say current measures aren’t strict enough, according to a survey.
Eight in 10 (81%) say they are social distancing and not hugging or shaking hands with people, according to Ipsos MORI.
Nearly 60% say they are avoiding public transport, not attending social gatherings in the houses of friends and family, and not going to pubs or restaurants.
And 45% of workers say they are or will work from home instead of the office, while 47% say that they have not, or plan not, to attend their work Christmas party.

R number in Scotland 'well above 3'

Nicola Sturgeon starts by saying Omicron has firmly established itself as the dominant strain of coronavirus.
It now accounts for 62.9% of all cases - compared to 27.5% this time last week.
It's significantly more transmissible than previous variants and has an R number (reinfection number for each case) well above 3.

 

Scotland cancels all large events from Boxing Day

All large events in Scotland will be cancelled from Boxing Day to slow down the spread of Omicron, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tells MSPs.
This includes Hogmanay street parties, concerts and major sporting fixtures and will last for at least three weeks, she says.
Indoor standing events will be limited to 100 people, indoor seated events will be up to 200, and for outdoor events it will be 500 seated or standing, she says.
The first minister says this does not apply to private events like weddings and there will be no change to the rules or advice on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Sturgeon asks people to stay at home as much as possible in the run up to Christmas and to keep festive gatherings small.
We'll bring you the headlines from Sturgeon's announcement but you can follow a blow-by-blow account of what she says here.

Table service returns for Scottish hospitality

Pubs and hospitality venues in Scotland which serve alcohol will return to table service only from 27 December, Nicola Sturgeon announces.
This will also be initially over a three week period, she confirms.
The first minister says indoor hospitality venues will also be asked ensure one metre distance between between groups of people, as well as limiting groups to no more than three households.
She says guidance will be issued that non-professional indoor contact sports for adults should not take place for three weeks from Boxing Day.

US to give out 500 million tests

In the US, President Joe Biden will speak about the threat posed by the Omicron variant in a speech to the nation later on Tuesday.
Biden will announce military support for the health system and tell Americans that some 500 million free rapid tests will be made available to the public.
The tests are not expected to be available until January, according to senior health officials who briefed reporters.
The speech comes as Omicron drives a rise in cases in the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday that Omicron is now the dominant strain nationally - accounting for about 73% of all new infections last week.
Read more: Biden buys 500m test kits to tackle surge

German experts urge more restrictions

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has warned country faces "massive fifth wave" because of Omicron

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases has recommended that "maximum contact restrictions" be put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 there.
National and state officials are meeting today to decide on new measures.
German media reports new rules, including limiting private gatherings, could be announced from 28 December onwards.
The country reported 23,428 new infections with 462 further deaths on Tuesday.

 

UK cases rise by 90,629

A further 90,629 coronavirus cases have been reported in the UK, according to the [url=https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases?areaType=overview&areaName=United Kingdom]government's daily figures[/url].
There were a further 172 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.
On Monday, 91,743 cases and 44 deaths were reported.

What are the latest rules?

It's been busy on the coronavirus news front today Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £1bn of extra support for the hospitality and leisure sectors in England in the run-up to Christmas. And in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon cancelled large events for three weeks from Boxing Day, including Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
If you're in the UK over Christmas, here's our guide to social distancing rules wherever you are.

Anti-"green certificates" protests in Romania on Tuesday

Hundreds of far-right protesters gathered in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, on Tuesday to oppose a bill that would introduce “green certificates” in workplaces, which authorities hope will limit the spread of coronavirus infections and prevent another collapse of the country’s health care system, AP reports.
The protest was attended by various rightwing groups including supporters of Romania’s nationalist AUR party, which holds seats in parliament.
Romania, a European Union nation of about 19 million, faced its deadliest wave of coronavirus infections and deaths in October and November when intensive care units across the country were overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients, and hospital morgues ran out of space.
In response to the unfolding disaster, authorities tightened restrictions in late October, and daily coronavirus cases have since dropped to their lowest since August.
Authorities are concerned another surge is on the cards, after Romania confirmed more than a dozen cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

An anti-Covid-19 green pass protester holds a flag while standing on the fence of the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest on Tuesday. Photograph: Alexandru Dobre/AP

Romania’s new coalition government is discussing a bill that would require people going into their workplaces to present green certificates – available to those with proof of full vaccination, those who have recovered from Covid-19, or those who have a negative test.
They would be introduced after three consecutive weeks of an increasing Covid-19 infection rate, and once a certain incident rate is exceeded.
Only 40% of Romania’s population, or 7.7 million people, have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. About 2 million of those have also received the booster dose.
Over the winter holidays, hundreds of thousands of Romanians living abroad are expected to return home, which prompted authorities to implement on Monday passenger locator forms to improve the traceability of infections. In 24 hours, more than 100,000 forms have been filled out.

Sweden introduces tighter restrictions amid surging infections

Sweden will urge all employees to work from home if possible and impose tighter rules for social distancing, the government said on Tuesday, as it ratchets up restrictions aimed at fighting a surge in new infections of the Covid-19 virus.
The new rules also will also require seated-only service at bars and restaurants as well as at larger public events.
“We must now take joint responsibility and we need to adapt to the new reality,” prime minister Magdalena Andersson told a news conference.
“I understand that many are tired of this – so am I – but we now have a new virus variant, which means we are in a new situation.”
The Swedish Health Agency said on Tuesday that the worst case scenario in an updated pandemic model would lead daily new Covid infections to rise beyond 15,000 by mid-January.
In previous waves of the pandemic, daily infections have peaked at just over 11,000 cases, Reuters reports.
The new model projection factored in the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant, assuming it is 25% more contagious than the Delta variant and factored in varying degrees of protection offered by vaccines.

Despite high vaccination rates, Spain could be forced to reintroduce measures as the Omicron variant is running rampant.
Prime minister Pedro Sánchez will meet via video with the heads of Spain’s 17 regions on Wednesday to discuss new health measures, while medical groups and experts are clamouring for more action to be taken.
The country had hoped to rely on the willingness of 80% of its entire population of 47 million (90% of those over age 12) to line up for vaccine shots with little-to-no prodding and the widespread use of face masks to have a Christmas that looked much more like 2019 than like last year, AP reports.

People wearing face masks queue to buy Christmas lottery tickets, in Madrid, Spain, on 20 December. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

But the incredibly fast spread of the Omicron variant is starting to put pressure on hospitals, prompting authorities in Catalonia to prepare to become the first Spanish region to reinstate serious limitations (see 10:35). The region accounts for one in four people hospitalised in Spain with Covid-19.
“We had all hoped to spend these Christmas holidays with our family and loved ones, but unfortunately we are not in that situation,” Catalan regional president Pere Aragones said Tuesday. “You don’t have to look at the numbers. All of us know people who have been infected.”
Spain is back in the high-risk zone with over 600 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days, more than double the accumulated cases seen before last year’s winter holidays.
The Omicron strain has increased from 5% of new cases in Spain to 47% within one week, according to the health ministry.

Scotland to tighten Covid measures as Omicron becomes dominant strain

Omicron is now firmly established as the dominant strain of coronavirus in Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said, as she announced new restrictions on public events.
Large-scale Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland are to be cancelled and live sports will be “effectively spectator-free” for three weeks from Boxing Day.
More restrictions in hospitality venues will be introduced after Christmas.
People in Scotland should also minimise their socialising at New Year, with Sturgeon urging people to keep their contacts with other households to a minimum.
Updating MSPs, the first minister said 62.9% of cases showed the S-gene dropout, and that more restrictions were needed to slow the spread of the virus.
She said:

It is currently spreading rapidly across Scotland, and so the steep increase in infections that was predicted last week has now started to materialise.

She added:

Difficult though it is, please follow this advice over New Year – minimise Hogmanay socialising as much as you can.
If we all follow the advice to minimise the contact we have outside our own households, we will help limit the spread of infections.
This is the bedrock of our plan for the immediate period ahead.

On restrictions for hospitality, Sturgeon told MSPs:

From 27 December, again for a three-week period – we intend to introduce some further protections in hospitality settings and other indoor public places to reduce transmission risk in what are, through no fault of those who run such venues, higher-risk environments.
I can confirm that a requirement for table service-only will be reintroduced for venues serving alcohol for consumption on the premises.
And we will also ask indoor hospitality and leisure venues to ensure one-metre distance, not within, but between groups of people who are attending together.

Recent funding from the Treasury will give Scotland an extra £175m to spend now, Sturgeon said.
She told MSPs the entirety of this sum would go towards supporting businesses, bringing the total package for business support over the next three weeks to £375m.
Discussing the new restrictions for hospitality, which include a rule for table service-only in venues serving alcohol, she said:

I know how unwelcome this will be for everyone - but we believe these precautionary steps will help us navigate a difficult period more safely.
I am also acutely aware that these decisions - and the advice we are giving the public – have significant financial implications for many businesses.

Vaccine sceptics in Sicily paid a nurse to give them fake Covid-19 jabs in order to obtain a health certificate that is mandatory for some professions, police said on Tuesday.
Reuters reports:

Three people, including the nurse and a local leader of the movement known in Italy as ‘No-Vax,’ have been arrested and face charges of corruption and forgery.
Police used a hidden camera to film the nurse at a major inoculation centre emptying the vaccine syringe into a tissue before briefly putting the needle into the arm of the recipient.
Around a dozen health passes were obtained in this fashion, including by a policeman. Local media reported that people paid up to €400 each for the service.
“We have uncovered the dark and fraudulent plots of these die-hard, No-Vax people who do not hesitate reak the law,” Palermo police commissioner Leopoldo Laricchia said in a statement.
In an effort to curb Covid-19 infections, the government has made vaccinations mandatory for health care workers, teachers, law enforcement officers and the military.
Italy further tightened curbs on people who are still not vaccinated on 6 December, limiting their access to an array of places and services, including indoor seating at bars and restaurants, museums, cinemas, clubs and sporting events.
Some 81% of all Italians have received either one or two jabs – one of the highest rates in Europe – while 26% of the population has had a booster jab.
As pressure has mounted to get vaccinated, so have reports of people trying to dupe the system.
Earlier this month, a dentist turned up at a vaccination centre in northern Italy wearing a fake silicone arm, hoping to fool a nurse into giving him a jab in order to obtain a Covid-19 health certificate.

London hospitals warn of cancellations

Operations may need to be cancelled in the coming weeks at some of London's biggest hospitals.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust has confirmed "routine and non-urgent" operations may be cancelled due to the Omicron surge.
Barts Health NHS Trust has also warned of operation cancellations in the new year.
A Barts spokesman stressed services were currently running "as normal" despite rising staff absences.
Read more.

No new restrictions for England before Christmas

No further Covid restrictions will be put in place before Christmas, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says.
He says there is currently not enough evidence on the severity of Omicron, the hospitalisation rate and the impact of the booster rollout to justify tougher measures before Christmas.
However the PM is clear the situation is finely balanced and remains difficult across the country, with the Omicron variant continuing to surge and cases at an all-time high.
The government will continue to monitor the data closely and will not hesitate to act after Christmas if necessary, he says.
He urges people to exercise caution and to continue to follow the guidance, including by wearing a mask indoors when required, keeping fresh air circulating and taking a test when visiting vulnerable and elderly relatives.

Omicron surge unlike anything we have seen - PM

In a statement released on Twitter, he says: "There is no doubt that Omicron continues to surge with a speed unlike anything we’ve seen before.
"The situation remains extremely difficult but I also recognise that people have been waiting to hear whether their Christmas plans are going to be affected.
"What I can say tonight, is that naturally we can’t rule out any further measures after Christmas - and we’re going to keep a constant eye on the data, and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect public health."
But he says in view of continuing uncertainty about the severity of Omicron, uncertainty about the hospitalisation rate or the impact of the vaccine rollout or boosters, "we don’t think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas".

PM's options open for new year

Vicki Young - Deputy Political Editor
The prime minister is keeping his options open when it comes to imposing further restrictions in the run-up to new year.
The government is worried that many are limiting their social interactions now to reduce the chance of catching Covid and spreading it to family, but that once Christmas is out of the way that behaviour will change.
The Cabinet hasn’t discussed any specific proposal yet but few expect that to be the situation for long.

Analysis: PM's options open for new year

Vicki Young - Deputy Political Editor
The prime minister is keeping his options open when it comes to imposing further restrictions in the run-up to new year.
The government is worried that many are limiting their social interactions now to reduce the chance of catching Covid and spreading it to family, but that once Christmas is out of the way that behaviour will change.
The Cabinet hasn’t discussed any specific proposal yet but few expect that to be the situation for long.

18:18

What is happening around the world?

• The World Health Organization's (WHO) Europe head has warned nations in the region to brace for a "significant surge" in Covid-19 cases driven by Omicron. "We can see another storm coming," Hans Kluge told a news conference in Vienna on Tuesday.
  
• The WHO says the variant is spreading faster than previous forms and have warned countries around the world about the threat it could pose to health systems
  
• German health officials are calling for "maximum contact restrictions" to be imposed and Sweden announced Tuesday it would expand vaccine certificates, urge people to work from home and limit attendees at private parties and in public venues.
  
• Thailand has reintroduced quarantine measures for foreign tourists and New Zealand announced a push-back to the date allowing citizens to travel freely from Australia because of projected Omicron levels there.
  
• US President Joe Biden will address the nation later on the virus threat
  

Another storm is coming in Europe, warns WHO

The World Health Organisation's European chief warned countries to brace for a "significant surge" in COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads, and advised the widespread use of boosters for protection.
Hans Kluge told a news conference in Vienna on Tuesday that the Omicron variant is now the dominant variant in a number of European countries, including the UK, Denmark and Portugal.
"We can see another storm coming," said Kluge. "Within weeks, Omicron will dominate in more countries of the region, pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink."
"The sheer volume of new COVID-19 infections could lead to more hospitalisations and widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services," he added.
"Governments and authorities need to prepare our response systems for a significant surge."
Kluge said that 89% of the early Omicron cases in Europe were associated with common COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever, with cases predominately clustered among people in their 20s and 30s and in large cities.

Cap on New Year's Eve parties among new restrictions announced in Germany

Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has announced a range of new measures to fight the country's increasing number of coronavirus cases.
The measures he's agreed with Germany's 16 regional leaders will come into force after Christmas and will include the temporary closure of nightclubs and restrictions on how many people can meet together.
From 28 December, private gatherings of those who've been vaccinated or who've recovered from the disease will be limited to ten people and sporting fixtures will take place without spectators.
Mr Scholz said that many of the steps are being introduced in an attempt to boost Germany's low vaccine uptake ahead of a surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant. Just 70% of German's are fully vaccinated.
"It is only a matter of weeks before omicron is dominant here," Scholz said.

Portugal to close bars and nightclubs after Christmas

Portugal has become the latest European country to reimpose restrictions on bars and restaurants.
On Tuesday Prime Minister Antonio Costa ordered nightclubs and bars to shut their doors and told people to work from home from 26 December until at least 9 January.
Costa also announced that a negative coronavirus test will be required to stay at hotels and said that outdoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people per group on New Year's Eve.
Portugal is one of the most heavily vaccinated countries in the world, with almost 88% of its 10 million population fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Despite this, new infections have been rising steadily there over the past several weeks and the new Omicron variant is rapidly becoming the dominant variant of the coronavirus.

The Philippines’ health ministry on Tuesday halved the waiting time for a Covid-19 vaccine booster to three months after a second vaccination to help prevent the spread of the more infectious Omicron variant.
A growing list of countries, including South Korea, the UK, Thailand and Germany, are shortening the interval for boosters to try to stave off a new surge in infections, Reuters reports.
Adults in the Philippines can receive a booster dose at least three months after the second shot of a two-dose vaccine, cutting the six-month gap.
Recipients of a single-dose vaccine can get a booster shot after two months, the health ministry said.
“We are exploring all possible options to safely mitigate the effects of more transmissible variants of Covid-19,” health secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement.
The Southeast Asian nation has detected three imported cases of Omicron variant.
The Philippines has received more than 192 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, and fully inoculated roughly 44.2 million of its 110 million population, government data show.
In November, the government started the rollout of booster doses for healthcare workers and the elderly.
Covid-19 cases have fallen to an average of 378 a day in December from the peak of 18,579 daily in September.

---

Italy reported 153 coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday versus 137 the day before and 120 a week prior, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose to 30,798 from 16,213, the first time above 30,000 since November last year.
Italy has registered 135,931 deaths linked to Covid-19 since February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after the UK and the ninth-highest in the world. The country has reported 5.4 million cases to date.
Patients in hospital with Covid-19 - not including those in intensive care - stood at 8,381 on Tuesday, up from 8,101 a day earlier.
There were 96 new admissions to intensive care units, up from 73 on Monday. The total number of intensive care patients increased to 1,012 from a previous 987.
851,865 tests for Covid-19 were carried out over the past 24 hours, compared with a previous 337,222, the health ministry said.

A total of 7,801 people were in hospital in the UK with Covid-19 as of 20 December, government figures show.
This is the highest number since November 23 and is up 1% from a week earlier, PA reports.
During the second wave of coronavirus, hospital numbers peaked at 39,254 on 18 January.
Separate figures from NHS England show that 1,904 people were in hospital in London with Covid-19 as of 21 December, the highest number since 2 March and up 41% from a week earlier.
The peak of the second wave had stood at 7,917 on 18 January.
Across England, 6,902 patients were in hospital with Covid-19 on 21 December - the highest number since 10 November and up 7% week-on-week.
The second-wave peak for England was 34,336 on 18 January.

Israel on Tuesday recorded its first death from the Omicron coronavirus variant, according to Israeli news media which on Tuesday reported that a man in his seventies with pre-existing conditions died in Beersheva on Monday after having received two vaccination doses, Reuters reports.
The country confirmed 170 new cases of the Omicron variant, the health ministry said on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the highly infectious variant to 341.
The health ministry said it was looking into 807 confirmed Covid cases that may be Omicron, but have yet to be confirmed, Haaretz reports.
The government’s coronavirus cabinet is set to meet later on Tuesday to discuss ways to handle the spread of the Omicron variant in Israel, in what will be the cabinet’s first meeting since the end of November.
Fresh infections continue to soar, with Tuesday’s 1,306 new coronavirus cases marking a two-month peak, but the number of patients in serious condition remains stable, according to official figures.

France will pass a law that will transform its health pass - currently needed to exercise some professions and to go to cinemas and bars - into a “vaccination” pass in the first half of January, government spokesman Gabriel Attal told journalists on Tuesday.
Reuters reports:

“The wave awaiting us will be high,” Attal said, adding that the Omicron variant accounts for 20% of new Covid-19 infections in France and is spreading rapidly, particularly in the Paris region.
The main aim of a vaccination pass will be to do away with the option of obtaining a valid certificate by testing negative instead of having the jabs.
In contrast to other European governments, Attal on Tuesday ruled out further restrictions, saying that the country had the means to battle the next wave of cases with its vaccination campaign and mass testing.

France logged 72,832 fresh infections on Tuesday, compared with 63,405 a week ago.

Germany poised to introduce tougher restrictions after Christmas
Germany has announced a string of new measures that are to take effect from 28 December “at the latest”, in a bid to get a rampant surge in new infections under control.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, North Rhine-Westphalia’s prime minister Hendrik Wüst and Berlin’s governing mayor Franziska Giffey gave a press conference about new coronavirus measures.
Scholz said the Omicron variant would soon cause infections to skyrocket. “Covid-19 won’t take a Christmas break,” he said.
The chancellor said the fourth wave of infections was now under control, but warned that the fifth wave was just around the corner.
Private gatherings will be limited to ten people even for those who have recovered from the virus or who have been vaccinated. Children under the age of 14 are not included in this number. Clubs and discos will remain closed.
The “2G rule” - which stipulates that people must either be vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 - will apply in cinemas and theaters.
In addition, the sale of fireworks will be prohibited on New Year’s Eve, and there will be a ban on assemblies on 31 December.
Tough restrictions for unvaccinated people will remain in place - with the 3G rule [having to be either vaccinated, recovered or able to produce a negative test] applying at work and on public transport, and tight contact restrictions also applying over Christmas.
All measures decided today should not start until after Christmas, Scholz said, adding that the past few years had shown that Easter and Christmas aren’t major drivers of infection.
The government is aiming to administer a further 30 million booster vaccinations by the end of January, Scholz said. As an interim goal, the overall vaccination rate in the population is hoped to increase to at least 80 percent.
The different heads of Germany’s individual states will meet again on 7 January to discuss further steps, which is also when further financial aid for companies will be discussed again.

The Welsh parliament will be recalled on Wednesday “to consider a matter of urgent public importance”, government officials have confirmed.
First minister Mark Drakeford will make a virtual statement addressing the Senedd on the Covid-19 pandemic from 1.30pm and ministers will then have the opportunity to ask questions.
It will follow a government media briefing which will be held just after midday to update the country on the Omicron crisis after Cabinet talks were held on Tuesday.
The Senedd has been on winter recess since Monday.
It is planned to sit again in Plenary on Tuesday, 11 January 2022.

Biden: Vaccinated Americans can keep Christmas plans

US President Joe Biden is announced new steps to combat the surge in coronavirus cases, driven by the Omicron variant.
“I want to start by acknowledging how tired, worried, frustrated I know you are,” Biden says. “This will be the first or second Christmas you look across the kitchen and you see an empty chair.”
But this year, the vaccinated “should be comfortable celebrating Christmas and the holidays you celebrate as you planned”.
But for the unvaccinated, it’s a different story. The president once again refers to vaccination as a “patriotic duty” and implores Americans to get their jabs.
Without the protection of a vaccine, he says, it will be a long winter ahead.
The new measures announced today include:

• Buying 500 million rapid tests to deliver to Americans for free
  
• Deploying an additional 1,000 military doctors, nurses and other health professionals to assist overburdened hospitals
  
• Federal stockpiling of medical equipment to prepare for increased need
  
• The federal emergency agency will deploy hundreds of ambulances and crews to help transfer patients from overburdened hospitals
  

Sweden to introduce new coronavirus restrictions

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced the new measures on Tuesday

The Swedish government has announced that it will tighten coronavirus restrictions and has urged citizens to work from home where possible.
From Wednesday, bars, cafes and restaurants will only be able to serve seated guests.
The measures will also include a limit of 50 people at private gatherings and a requirement for a vaccination pass at public events with more than 500 attendees.
"We must now take joint responsibility and we need adapt to the new reality," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said during a news conference on Tuesday. "I understand that many are tired of this - so am I - but we now have a new virus variant, which means we are in a new situation."
New coronavirus infections have started to slowly rise in the country and while hospitalisations and the number of patients requiring intensive care are still among the lowest per capita in Europe, these figures have also started to climb.
Sweden caught international attention during the initial wave of the coronavirus last year by refusing to implement harsh public health measures, pursuing instead light touch restrictions such as social distancing and some work from home orders.

What happened today in the UK?

As the live coverage draws to a close, here are some of the day's key stories from the UK:

• There will be no further Covid restrictions in England ahead of Christmas and people can continue with their festive plans, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed
  
• However, the PM also said the government cannot guarantee more restrictions will not be needed after Christmas
  
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £1bn to help businesses hit by surging Covid cases - primarily those in the leisure and hospitality sectors
  
• While the news was broadly welcomed by business groups, some firms warned the funds being offered would only scratch the surface of their losses
  
• Hogmanay events in Scotland have been cancelled and football matches will be almost entirely without spectators as part of new Covid rules set out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
  
• The UK recorded 90,629 Covid cases and 172 deaths on Tuesday, while more than 990,000 Covid vaccines were administered the day before
  
• Rail services across the country are being cancelled in the run-up to Christmas as rising numbers of staff fall ill with Covid
  

What's happened around the world today?

A round-up of oday’s main coronavirus headlines from around the world.

• The World Health Organisation has warned of "another storm coming" in Europe as the Omicron variant spreads, warning European countries to brace for a "significant surge" in Covid cases
  
• Germany has become the latest European country to tighten its coronavirus restrictions - including limiting private gatherings - but the measures will only come into force after Christmas
  
• Portugal and Sweden have also tightened their Covid rules
  
• US President Joe Biden stepped up testing efforts to fight the new variant, as he reassured vaccinated Americans they will be able to celebrate Christmas as planned
  
• New Zealand has pushed back plans to reopen its borders until late February
  
• Boris Johnson has confirmed no further Covid restrictions will be put in place in England before Christmas. The UK prime minister said there was currently not enough evidence to justify tougher measures before Christmas but curbs could be imposed after 25 December.
  
• Edinburgh’s annual Hogmanay street party has been cancelled, while in Wales employees face £60 fines for failing to work from home as governments tightened rules to limit the spread of the Omicron variant. The Scottish and Welsh governments also imposed limits on sporting events from Boxing Day.
  
• People over the age of 60 in Israel will be eligible for a fourth Covid vaccination, the country’s prime minister, Naftali Bennett, announced. His remarks came the country recorded its first death from the Omicron variant.
  
• The World Health Organization’s European chief has warned countries to brace for a “significant surge” in cases as Omicron spreads across the continent. Dr Hans Kluge said Omicron is now the dominant variant in a number of European countries, including the UK, Denmark and Portugal.
  
• The next mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, said on Tuesday he would postpone his inauguration ceremony, which was set for 1 January, due to the rise in cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. He did so shortly after the current mayor, Bill de Blasio, announced that residents who get a Covid-19 booster shot by the end of the year will receive $100.
  
• Germany has announced a string of new measures that are to take effect from 28 December “at the latest”, in a bid to get a rampant surge in new infections under control. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the fourth wave of infections was now under control, but warned that the fifth wave was just around the corner.
  
• Portugal’s government ordered nightclubs and bars to shut doors and told people to work from home from 26 December to at least 9 January to control the spread of Covid-19 over the holiday period. A negative coronavirus test will also be required to stay at Portuguese hotels and outdoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people per group on New Year’s Eve.
  
• The archbishop of Canterbury has said that people will have felt “sorrow and sadness” seeing the photograph of Downing Street staff drinking together last May because it will have reminded them of what they sacrificed. In an interview, Justin Welby hinted at his disapproval over the gathering, saying that leadership involved setting an example.
  
• A bailout package worth about £1bn for businesses losing trade because of the Omicron surge was announced by the UK’s chancellor, Rishi Sunak. The funding will primarily help firms in the leisure and hospitality sectors, and follows concerns that they have faced cancelled bookings.