Coronavirus - 22nd December 2021

Summary for Wednesday, 22nd December

• Covid self-isolation in England has been cut from 10 days down to seven after negative lateral flow tests on day six and seven
  
• The change will mean some people who had been expecting to isolate for Christmas will now not have to - if they meet the conditions
  
• Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford will set out plans for post-Christmas Covid restrictions later
  
• And Stormont ministers will meet later to discuss the possible reintroduction of Covid measures in Northern Ireland
  
• Scotland has already cancelled large public events for three weeks from Boxing Day
  
• UK PM Boris Johnson says there will be no new Covid measures in England before Christmas but he cannot rule any out afterwards
  
• EU nations including Germany and Portugal have announced post-Christmas restrictions as Omicron cases rise
  
• Israel says it plans to become the first country to roll out a fourth vaccine dose
  

Good morning

Welcome to today's live coverage of coronavirus in the UK and around the world.
Here’s a news briefing to start the day:

• Covid self-isolation will be cut from 10 days down to seven in England after negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven
  
• Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford will set out plans for post-Christmas Covid restrictions later
  
• And Stormont ministers will meet to discuss the possible reintroduction of Covid measures in Northern Ireland
  
• Scotland has already cancelled large public events for three weeks from Boxing Day
  
• UK PM Boris Johnson says there will be no new Covid measures in England before Christmas but he cannot rule out any afterwards
  
• EU nations including Germany and Portugal have announced post-Christmas restrictions
  
• Israel says it plans to become the first country to roll out a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as it prepares for an Omicron wave
  
• UK prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed no further Covid restrictions will be put in place in England before Christmas however 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 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.
  

Self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven with negative test

People infected with Covid in England can stop self-isolating up to three days early if they test negative twice, it has been announced.
They will now be able to end quarantine after seven days instead of 10 by providing negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says it will minimise disruption created by staff shortages for businesses, health services and rail services.
The new guidance applies to those who are isolating after testing positive for Covid, regardless of their vaccination status.
But those who are not double-jabbed will still have to isolate for the full 10 days if they are a close contact of a positive case, as is currently the case.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new guidance.

What are the newspapers saying?

Unsurprisingly the newspapers are dominated with reaction to the prime minister's latest announcement on the pandemic.

• The Daily Telegraph sums up the nuance of his message in its main headline: "Glad tidings for Christmas (but perhaps not New Year)".
  
• The Daily Express goes with: "Christmas Can Go Ahead, But New Curbs Loom".
  
• It is "Xmas Cheer And Fear" in the Daily Mirror,
  
• while the i's front page headline is "Christmas is happening.
  

You can read our full paper review here.

There is a sense that restrictions are on their way - Ashworth

The British public think coronavirus restrictions will kick in after Christmas and want to know where they stand, says the shadow work and pensions secretary.
Jonathan Ashworth tells BBC Breakfast: “There is a sense and anticipation that restrictions are on the way, possibly the day after Boxing Day or in the run up to New Year.
“Businesses need to know where they stand, people need to know where they stand.”
He says in order to give more clarity the PM could say: “Here are a series of measures that we think we need to take but they are dependent on the data.”
Ashworth says he thinks the British people have been doing the right thing to safeguard their Christmas by limiting their socialising and getting booster jabs.

What are UK leaders saying about Covid restrictions over Christmas?

As England awaits news of any further coronavirus restrictions after Christmas here's the situation across the UK:

• Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford will set out plans for post-Christmas Covid restrictions later
  
• In Northern Ireland there are expected to be "additional asks" made of the public after Christmas following a meeting of Stormont ministers this afternoon
  
• Scotland has already cancelled large public events, including Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration, for three weeks from Boxing Day
  
• UK PM Boris Johnson says there will be no new Covid measures in England before Christmas but he cannot rule any out afterwards
  

If you're in the UK over Christmas here's our guide to the social distancing rules wherever you are.

Train operators trying to strike a balance - Rail industry body

Rail services across the country are being cancelled in the run-up to Christmas as rising numbers of staff fall ill with Covid.
Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, LNER, Scotrail and West Midlands Railway have all reported cancellations.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) which represents train operators across the UK, says in the past week 5.2% of trains were cancelled, versus an average of 2.9%. And 8.7% of their staff were off sick.
Seb Gordon from Rail Delivery Group tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme operators have to strike a balance between running as many trains as they can and a reliable service.
He says at the moment rail bosses believe that during Christmas week it's important to prioritise running as many trains as possible even if it means there are a few more frustrating short notice cancellations.
He says: "It may be we decide actually we need to prepare for a lower level of staffing over a longer period of time and we will reduce the timetable."

Restrictions reinstated in Europe as Omicron spread continues

European leaders are reinstating Covid restrictions as the Omicron variant continues to spread through the continent.
Germany and Portugal are among nations announcing post-Christmas curbs and greater social distancing measures.
The World Health Organization’s top official has warned of “another storm” coming and said the surge will push health systems towards the brink of collapse.
Read more here.

'New isolation rules will release pressure on care homes'

Health minister Gillian Keegan says the new rules for when people can leave isolation based on testing "will relieve some of the pressure" on staffing in health and social care settings.
We reported the news earlier that people infected with Covid in England can stop self-isolating up to three days early if they test negative twice.
They will now be able to end quarantine after seven days instead of 10 by providing negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven.
Keegan was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme how much difference she expects the change to make in hospitals and care homes.
She said: "Obviously it will relieve some of the pressure, but obviously we still have to monitor very closely, because we know we had, in the care sector for example, we had quite a lot of vacancies already, so we do monitor that very closely."

Shorter Covid self-isolation saves Christmas for many

The news that the self-isolation time for people with Covid in England has been cut from 10 to seven days could save Christmas for many families.
The guidelines can be applied retrospectively so anyone who began self-isolating on 15 December who has negative tests yesterday and today can be freed from quarantine in time to join in the festivities.
But people should not end their isolation early if they are still experiencing symptoms, officials say.
And those ending isolation on day seven are strongly advised to limit contact with vulnerable people, not visit crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and work from home.
Here's what you need to know about the new self-isolation rules.

What are train companies doing about disruption?

Rail operators are blaming coronavirus-related staff shortages for widespread cancellations during the Christmas getaway.
Here's some of the things they're doing to get people to where they need to be:

• Avanti West Coast says it will remove peak ticket restrictions between Thursday and 3 January in a bid to spread demand
  
• CrossCountry asks passengers: "Please pull your journey forward to sooner rather than later to get to your end destination as early as possible"
  
• Greater Anglia says passengers who have booked a ticket on a cancelled service can travel on either the train before or after
  
• Northern is operating amended timetables due to "Covid and crew unavailability and major engineering works"
  
• ScotRail is running an amended service on several routes until further notice due to Covid-19 related illness
  
• TransPennine Express said delays and short-notice cancellations over the next fortnight are due to "a lack of available staff caused by industrial relations issues"
  

Israel planning to roll out fourth Covid dose

Israel says it plans to become the first country to roll out a fourth dose of the vaccine as the country prepares for a wave of infections driven by the new Omicron variant.
Israel’s pandemic experts have recommended a fourth booster for the over-60s and health workers.
The decision is still pending approval by senior health officials.
According to the country’s heath ministry, there were at least 340 known cases of the variant in Israel.
Read more here

WHO warns Europe of 'significant surge' in Covid cases

The World Health Organization’s European chief has warned countries to brace for a “significant surge” in cases as Omicron spreads across the continent.
Speaking at a press conference in Vienna, Dr Hans Kluge said Omicron is now the dominant variant in a number of European countries, including the UK, Denmark and Portugal. He said:

We can see another storm coming.
Within weeks, omicron will dominate in more countries of the region, pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink.

Last week, 27,000 people died from Covid in the region and an additional 2.6m cases were reported, he said. Although these cases include all variants, he noted this figure is 40% higher than during the same period last year. He added:

The sheer volume of new Covid-19 infections could lead to more hospitalisations and widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services.
Governments and authorities need to prepare our response systems for a significant surge.

Read the full story here.

British Columbia, Canada, to close bars, nightclubs and weddings

The Canadian Pacific Coast province of British Columbia is closing bars, nightclubs and gyms amid concerns over the Omicron variant.
Starting at 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 December, bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres and dance studios will close, and all seated events will be reduced to 50% capacity.
Indoor gatherings, including weddings, are also being cancelled, the Associated Press reports.

A police officer directs the traffic outside a Covid-19 test site in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 18 December as cases continue to soar across Canada. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

The new public health measures will be in place until the end of the day Tuesday, 18 January.
Provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry said Tuesday the risk posed by Omicron is “fundamentally different” than other variants and it more easily infects those who are vaccinated or have had Covid-19.
She said the province is seeing “explosive outbreaks,” with a large number of people being exposed at the same time. There’s also been a spike in cases among those aged 18 to 35.
The French-speaking province of Quebec announced Monday that it is closing bars, cinemas, gyms and spas because of a record number of coronavirus cases.

China has reported 77 new confirmed coronavirus cases for Tuesday 21 December,
down from 81 a day earlier, its health authority said on Wednesday.
Of the new infections, 57 were locally transmitted, according to a statement by the National Health Commission, unchanged from a day earlier. Most of the new local cases were in the northwestern province of Shaanxi.
China reported 19 new asymptomatic cases, which it classifies separately from confirmed cases, also unchanged from a day earlier.
There were no new deaths, leaving the death toll at 4,636.

Finland to close bars and restaurants by 10pm on Christmas Eve

Finland will significantly scale up Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry from Christmas Eve.
Prime minister Sanna Marin said restaurants will be required to stop serving alcohol by 9pm and close their doors by 10pm as of Christmas Eve during a press briefing on Tuesday night.
“We must take this situation seriously and react accordingly,” Marin said.
The restrictions will be further tightened from 28 December with restaurants to stop drinking at 5pm with doors closing at 6pm.
The restrictions will be in effect for three weeks. The government will begin preparing a support package to compensate hospitality businesses affected by the restrictions, Marin said.

A woman wears a protective face mask in Helsinki, Finland, as the country announces it will significantly scale up Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry from Christmas Eve. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Health chiefs announced over 23,000 new coronavirus infections in the past two weeks, an all-time record in the Nordic nation of 5.5 million people.
EU citizens arriving at the Finnish border will be required to show a negative Covid test under the new rules.
Further details on the restrictions are set to be announced on Wednesday.

Some interesting news from Japan has just emerged.

Prime minister Fumio Kishida has said 80 million unused “Abenomasks” will be thrown away after criticism that it was costing ¥600 million ($5.2m or £4m to keep them in storage. The government also found that 11 million of the masks were “defective” after inspections that cost more than ¥2 billion.
“I have instructed (officials) to dispose of the government’s stock of cloth masks by the end of the current fiscal year (through March) after distributing them to those in need,” Kishida told a press conference.

People wear face masks shop at a mall in Yokohama, near Tokyo as Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida says 80 million unused masks will be thrown away. Photograph: Koji Sasahara/AP

“Worries about mask shortages have been completely eliminated due to a recovery in manufacturing and supply, and the intended purpose (of the cloth masks) has been achieved,” the premier said.
Kishida also said that Japan will continue to ban foreigners (apart from residents) entering the country “for the time being” to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant.

McDonald’s rations fries in Japan due to potato shortage

Masks in Japan might be in oversupply but McDonald’s fries certainly are not.
A new kind of chip shortage has hit Japanese supply chains, with McDonald’s forced to ration fries as Covid-19 and floods in Canada squeeze potato imports.
McDonald’s Japan said it would only sell small-sized french fries for a week from Friday to avoid shortages.

Due to large-scale flooding near the Port of Vancouver … and the global supply chain crunch caused by the coronavirus pandemic, there are delays in the supply of potatoes.”

The company said it had taken the measure to ensure that customers could still order fries, even though the “stable procurement of resource materials” was proving difficult.
Read the full story here.

129 people in hospital with Omicron and so far 14 deaths

In the UK, there are 129 people in hospital with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and so far 14 people have died, junior health minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News on Wednesday.
She also said the UK government would not hesitate to bring in further Covid restrictions if the data showed it was necessary.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that he would not introduce new restrictions in England before Christmas, but the situation remained extremely difficult and the government might need to act afterwards.

France could soon have 100,000 Covid cases a day - minister

France could soon have around 100,000 new Covid cases a day, health minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday, up from around 70,000 currently as the country battles a fifth wave of the epidemic.
The Omicron variant will be the dominant strain of Covid in France by early January, Veran told BFM TV .
Veran said no new restrictions were on the table for now, although nothing could be ruled out, with authorities hoping an increase in the numbers of people having vaccinations will allow them to keep the virus in check.
On 21 December, France registered a further 210 Covid deaths in hospitals in the last 24 hours, while it also recorded 72,832 new Covid cases. The country’s death toll stands at 122,931, according to Johns Hopkins University.

German health experts have said that new coronavirus curbs probably did not go far enough to keep the Omicron variant in check
The country’s health minister said he had not ruled out a full lockdown if cases spiked.
The measures, decided on Tuesday, include limits on private gatherings, closing clubs and discos and banning spectators at football matches and are set to be introduced from 28 December, Reuters reported.
Janosch Dahmen, health expert for junior coalition partners the Greens, said they were a step in the right direction. “But they probably won’t be able to curb the danger that Omicron represents,” he told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.
German Hospital Federation chairman Gerald Gass called the measures “necessary, but possibly not sufficient” in comments to the Funke media group.
Germany reported 45,659 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, close to recent peaks, as the death toll rose by 510, and both men said the government should be ready to toughen the curbs if the epidemic worsened.

Here is a round-up of the top Covid news stories so far today:

• France could soon have around 100,000 new Covid cases a day, health minister Olivier Véran said on Wednesday, up from around 70,000 as the country battles a fifth wave of the epidemic.
  
• Israel is to offer a fourth dose of a Covid vaccine to people older than 60 or with compromised immune systems, and to health workers, as part of a drive to ramp up the shots and outpace the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
  
• AstraZeneca has said it is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for the Omicron variant. “Together with Oxford University, we have taken preliminary steps in producing an Omicron variant vaccine, in case it is needed and will be informed by emerging data,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
  
• German health experts have said that new coronavirus curbs probably did not go far enough to keep the Omicron variant in check, as the country’s health minister said he had not ruled out a full lockdown if cases spiked.
  
• The World Health Organization’s European chief has warned countries to brace for a “significant surge” in cases as Omicron spreads across the continent.
  
• South Africa’s noticeable drop in new Covid cases in recent days may signal that the country’s dramatic Omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.
  
• In the UK, there are 129 people in hospital with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and so far 14 people have died, junior health minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News on Wednesday.
  
• Suspected Covid outbreaks in hospitals across the UK have doubled in a week, official figures reveal – though the number of people admitted to wards with the virus is falling across much of England.
  
• More than 167,000 children are believed to have lost parents or caregivers to Covid during the pandemic – roughly one in every 450 young people in the US under age 18.
  
• Poland reported 775 Covid-related deaths on Friday, the highest daily number in the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the data from the health ministry showed.
  
• Britain has signed contracts to buy a further 4.25m courses of antivirals for its health service to help combat the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, it said on Wednesday.
  
• Japan has confirmed its first known local transmissions of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus in Osaka, a sign it is already making its way in the country.
  
• In Australia, Scott Morrison insists it’s not necessary for the states to introduce mask mandates in response to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, despite health advice recommending they be compulsory in indoor settings.
  
• The US recorded the lowest rate of population growth in its history in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the US Census Bureau.
  
• Hundreds of small business owners rallied in South Korea’s capital on Wednesday, calling for the end of a curfew and tough coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, cafes, gyms and other facilities.
  
• Finland will significantly scale up Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry from Christmas Eve with restaurants to stop serving alcohol by 9pm and close their doors by 10pm.
  
• Singapore will freeze the sale of tickets for arriving flights and buses under its quarantine-free travel programme for four weeks from Thursday.
  

Strict lockdown imposed for Northern China

In northern China, the city of Xi’an has ordered its 13 million residents to stay home in a strict lockdown. From midnight on Thursday, all households may only “send one household member outside once every two days to purchase necessities,” Agence France-Presse reports. Everyone else must remain indoors except in the case of an emergency.
Xi’an reported 52 new cases today, bringing the total to 143 since December 9. The latest orders came a day after the city began testing all of its 13 million residents.
China is fighting local outbreaks in several cities, including key industrial hubs in the east and south. Authorities are determined to quash fresh outbreaks ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.
The southern city of Dongxing on Tuesday ordered its 200,000 residents to stay at home and halted public transport after one single local case was detected.

The World Health Organization’s eastern Mediterranean chief has warned that the 22 countries in the region could see more than 17 million cases and more than 314,000 deaths by the end of the year.
Speaking at a WHO virtual briefing, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari said:

The arrival of Delta and Omicron during 2021 made it clear that Covid-19 is far from over. Covid will continue to evolve; simply because the virus continues to mutate. This is what viruses do: they change as they circulate.

Some 14 countries in the eastern Mediterranean region have already reported cases of Omicron, he said, adding:

The holiday season is upon us. These times must remain happy times. Yet, the failure to apply the established public health and social measures could cause alarming surges in the number of Covid-19 cases and related deaths.

Brian May optimistic for future as he isolates with Covid

Queen guitarist Brian May says he is "optimistic for the future" as he isolates with Covid-19.
May believes he has the Omicron strain of the virus, and has been "congested, feverish and coughing for around two days" but did not have difficulty breathing or lose his sense of taste or smell.
Writing on Instagram on his 10th day of isolation, he says: "My deduction that it was Omicron is based on (1) the speed and pervasiveness of the spread of infection in that room - well over half of a group of 40 or so were infected inside three days, and (2) the symptoms.
"So this new variant is a very different beast from the one which first put all our lives on hold nearly two years ago.
"It's clear this new variant is completely out of control. BUT ... I am optimistic for the future."
He adds: "Just maybe, by next Christmas we may all find that old 'normality' we have been pining for.
"Let's pray that the human race will have learned a few lessons by then."
You can find out more about the symptoms of Omicron here.

Italy preparing for new measures

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said the government is preparing new Covid restrictions.
These could include a return to mandatory mask wearing outdoors and the wearing of more protective FFP2 masks indoors.
Mr Draghi also warned that the government may make vaccinations mandatory for more types of workers.
Officials are set to meet on Thursday to discuss potential measures.
It comes after other European nations such as Germany and Portugal introduced new restrictions to help tackle the spread of the Omicron variant.
Europe has already seen more than 89 million cases and 1.5 million Covid-related deaths, according to the latest EU figures.

Scotland considers isolation rule change

Scotland's deputy first minister, John Swinney, says changes to the isolation rules in Scotland are being considered in a bid to ease pressure on public services.
Fully-vaccinated people who have Covid in Scotland currently have to isolate for 10 days, along with those in their household.
In England, isolation has been cut to seven days for people who get negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven.

Christmas reunion hopes for self-isolating relatives

More from 5Live listeners who have been telling Adrian Chiles their hopes of spending Christmas with family members currently self-isolating with Covid.
Julie’s daughter is isolating at university after testing positive last week.
On day seven of her isolation she tested negative on a lateral flow test and tomorrow is her 10th day of isolation.
Julie says she will “make sure she takes a lateral flow test” again before setting off to pick her up tomorrow.
Angela’s daughter tested positive last Thursday and has been isolating at home since.
For the last six days, Angela has been trying to get hold of lateral flow tests to no avail.
“My daughter could come out of isolation if she can provide a negative LFT,” she said. “But she can’t because I haven’t got any.”

 

Maximum of six allowed to meet in pubs in Wales

A maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales from 26 December, the first minister has announced.
And two metres social distancing rules are to return in public places, Mark Drakeford said.
Licensed premises will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details collected.
Outdoor events will be limited to 50, with 30 indoors.
Find out more here.

Omicron is here in Wales and spreading quickly - Drakeford

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford begins his press briefing by saying the rapidly changing situation in Wales means ministers are reviewing public health rules every week.
He said Wales is seeing a rapid rise in the number of cases of the new Omicron variant and a big rise in the overall rates of coronavirus.
The trend is set to continue he says.
"Omicron is here already in Wales and is now spreading quickly," he adds.

Wales could see thousands of new Covid cases every day from Boxing Day - Drakeford

He says due to the doubling time of Omicron, by Boxing Day, Wales can expect to see many thousands of new cases every day.
Drakeford says essential services are already under strain due to Covid-related sickness and Wales has to be prepared for that situation to worsen after Christmas.
He says this is the reason the Welsh cabinet has been meeting almost every day to consider the scientific data and what extra protections could be needed after 25 December.

What are the key changes to Wales rules from Boxing Day?

We've just brought you the news that new measures will be introduced in Wales from 06:00 GMT on Boxing Day to help keep the country safe.
The move to alert level two means:

• A general requirement of 2m social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces, where reasonable
  
• The rule of six will apply to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres
  
• All licensed premises will need to take additional measures to protect customers and staff, including table service and collecting contact details
  
• Face coverings will be required in hospitality settings at all times apart from when seated
  
• Large events will not be allowed indoors or outdoors. The maximum number of people who can gather at an indoor event will be 30 and 50 outdoors
  
• There will be an exception for team sports, up to 50 spectators will be able to gather, in addition to those taking part. There is also an exception for events involving children
  

Weddings and funerals exempt from gathering limits

[*]Drakeford says the Welsh government is bringing in a new alert level two with measures "tailored" to the new Omicron variant to protect public health.
In addition to the measures we just brought you, the first minister also said:

• Weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and wakes will not be subject to the same limits as other indoor or outdoor events
  
• The number of people allowed at these events will be determined by the venue's ability to manage social distancing and other reasonable Covid secure measures
  
• All guests would need to take a lateral flow test before attending
  

Follow five simple measures to stem Omicron spread

Drakeford continues by giving the public five "simple measures" to stem the spread of Covid.

• Limit the number of people visiting your home
  
• Take a lateral flow test before visiting or accepting visitors
  
• Meeting outdoors is safer than indoors
  
• If you have to meet indoors, ensure it is well-ventilated. If you see family and friends, space out the visits
  
• Remember the basics - social distancing, respect for others and hand-washing
  

He says the measures above are guidance, but there will be a specific offence reinstated for large gatherings in homes, as he says Omicron thrives in large gatherings in enclosed spaces.

Millions under lockdown in Chinese city

There has been an outbreak of the Delta variant in Xi’an over the last week

More than 13 million residents in the Chinese city of Xi'an have been confined to their homes as officials implement a strict lockdown in the weeks leading up to the Winter Olympics.
Every two days, only one member of each household will be allowed outdoors to buy essentials, the BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell reports.
All non-essential businesses have been closed and mass testing has started.
There has been an outbreak of the Delta variant in Xi’an over the past week, and more than 90 active Covid-19 cases have been confirmed.
Covid-19 is not the only virus residents are worrying about in the city, China media analyst Kerry Allen reports.
Media have been reporting this week that Xi’an is facing a “dual epidemic” as there have been “several reported cases of haemorrhagic fever, a natural epidemic disease with a high fatality rate”.
China Daily says today that there has been “increased incidence” of this and “an uptick in severe cases and fatalities”. However, it says that it is a “common” seasonal disease in northern China, and predominantly concentrated in rural areas.

South Korea doubling hospital capacity

South Korea is almost doubling its hospital bed capacity for Covid cases as the number of people critically ill with the virus reaches a record high.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said 10,000 more beds will be secured by the middle of next month.
Some public hospitals will be solely dedicated to treating people with Covid.
On Tuesday, the country recorded 7,456 Covid-19 cases.
South Korea, which has a highly vaccinated population, has reimposed restrictions, limiting the size of public gatherings to four people if they are vaccinated.
The government has also introduced a 9pm dining curfew. Unvaccinated people are only allowed to eat out alone or should use takeaway or delivery options.

 

Vulnerable primary school children should be offered a low-dose Covid vaccine -JCVI

Vulnerable primary school children should be offered a low-dose Covid vaccine, government vaccine advisers the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have said.

Poland reported 775 Covid-related deaths on Friday

This is so far the highest daily number in the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the data from the health ministry showed.
Poland has been dealing with persistently high daily case numbers in a fourth wave that has forced authorities to tighten restrictions. On Friday Poland reported 18,021 new coronavirus cases.

‘Their whole sky has fallen’: more than 167,000 US children have lost a caregiver to Covid

Asher Lehrer-Small - The Guardian
More than 167,000 children are believed to have lost parents or caregivers to Covid during the pandemic – roughly one in every 450 young people in the US under age 18.
The count updates the October estimate that 140,000 minors had lost caregiving adults to the virus, and is four times more than a springtime tally that found nearly 40,000 children had experienced such loss.
In a 9 December report titled Hidden Pain, researchers from the COVID Collaborative and Social Policy Analytics published the new total, which they derived by combining coronavirus death numbers with household-level data from the 2019 American Community Survey.
The death toll further underscores the daunting task facing schools as they seek to help students recover not just academically, but also emotionally, from a pandemic that has already stretched 22 months and claimed more than 800,000 American lives.

The Quebec government is reportedly considering asking hospital workers with asymptomatic Covid-19 to stay on the job
The Globe and Mail quotes a source as saying the idea was floated last Friday at a meeting between unions representing health care workers and the assistant deputy minister of health, Vincent Lehouillier.
In an interview, a senior health official confirmed the government is looking into assigning Covid-19 positive staffers who are not feeling sick to treat patients who have already been exposed to the virus.
Canada’s second-most populous province announced a series of partial lockdown measures after cases doubled in less than a week.
Bars, casinos, cinemas, gyms and performance venues have been closed since Monday and restaurants can be open only between 5am and 10pm. Sports performances must be held behind closed doors and schools have closed with a return to in-person classes scheduled for 10 January.

Denmark has scrapped extraordinary travel restrictions for ten countries in southern Africa, after authorities said they did not contribute to controlling the epidemic.
The countries, which are now only encompassed by general travel restrictions, are South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Malawi and Zambia, the country’s health ministry said.
Travellers from these countries still need to get tested and enter isolation upon entry to Denmark.

Here is a round-up of the top Covid news stories so far today:

• France could soon have around 100,000 new Covid cases a day, health minister Olivier Véran said on Wednesday, up from around 70,000 as the country battles a fifth wave of the epidemic.
  
• Israel is to offer a fourth dose of a Covid vaccine to people older than 60 or with compromised immune systems, and to health workers, as part of a drive to ramp up the shots and outpace the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
  
• AstraZeneca has said it is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for the Omicron variant. “Together with Oxford University, we have taken preliminary steps in producing an Omicron variant vaccine, in case it is needed and will be informed by emerging data,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
  
• German health experts have said that new coronavirus curbs probably did not go far enough to keep the Omicron variant in check, as the country’s health minister said he had not ruled out a full lockdown if cases spiked.
  
• The World Health Organization’s European chief has warned countries to brace for a “significant surge” in cases as Omicron spreads across the continent.
  
• South Africa’s noticeable drop in new Covid cases in recent days may signal that the country’s dramatic Omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.
  
• In the UK, there are 129 people in hospital with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and so far 14 people have died, junior health minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News on Wednesday.
  
• Suspected Covid outbreaks in hospitals across the UK have doubled in a week, official figures reveal – though the number of people admitted to wards with the virus is falling across much of England.
  
• More than 167,000 children are believed to have lost parents or caregivers to Covid during the pandemic – roughly one in every 450 young people in the US under age 18.
  
• Poland reported 775 Covid-related deaths on Friday, the highest daily number in the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the data from the health ministry showed.
  
• Britain has signed contracts to buy a further 4.25m courses of antivirals for its health service to help combat the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, it said on Wednesday.
  
• Japan has confirmed its first known local transmissions of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus in Osaka, a sign it is already making its way in the country.
  
• In Australia, Scott Morrison insists it’s not necessary for the states to introduce mask mandates in response to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, despite health advice recommending they be compulsory in indoor settings.
  
• The US recorded the lowest rate of population growth in its history in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the US Census Bureau.
  
• Hundreds of small business owners rallied in South Korea’s capital on Wednesday, calling for the end of a curfew and tough coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, cafes, gyms and other facilities.
  
• Finland will significantly scale up Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry from Christmas Eve with restaurants to stop serving alcohol by 9pm and close their doors by 10pm.
  
• Singapore will freeze the sale of tickets for arriving flights and buses under its quarantine-free travel programme for four weeks from Thursday.
  

.

More than 106,000 new Covid cases recorded in UK

There have been a further 106,122 cases of coronavirus reported in the UK today, according to the latest government figures. It is the first time more than 100,000 cases have been reported in a single day.
And there have been another 140 deaths, of people who had tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days.

Covid cases up almost 60% week on week

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has increased by 238,350 or 58.9% in the past seven days, compared with the previous week, according to the government figures.
The number of daily deaths reported has decreased by 2.7% in the last seven days, compared with 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.
You can read our full report on the latest figures here.

Isolation rules different for NHS staff in England

Smitha Mundasad - BBC News reporter
Health and care staff who test positive for coronavirus in England can now return to work up to three days before their 10-day isolation period is complete - but must do extra tests, according to new guidance.
England’s health chiefs will be keeping their fingers crossed that the tweaked guidelines go some way to maintaining staffing levels during a difficult winter while limiting the spread of coronavirus to vulnerable people in hospitals and care homes.
According to the document, if health and care staff are well, and no longer have any symptoms, they can take lateral flow tests on day six and seven.
If negative – unlike most other adults - they are asked to test again on day eight, nine and 10.
They can return to work on day eight provided they have a negative lateral flow. But if any of their lateral flow tests return a positive result they need to isolate once more.
Some staff, particularly those working with patients most vulnerable to Covid, could be asked to work in less risky areas until the original 10-day isolation period is complete.

Is the PM in hiding? Javid is asked

During his visit to a hospital in south London earlier the health secretary was asked by a reporter whether the prime minister was "in hiding".
Boris Johnson's most recent address to the nation yesterday came via a video statement uploaded to Twitter, rather than the traditional press conference format where he is asked questions by journalists.
In his recent appearances, the prime minister has faced questions over reported gatherings in Downing Street when the country was under Covid restrictions.
But Sajid Javid says Johnson "couldn't be working harder" and tht he is having meetings with the prime minister "two or three times a day".

Austria to reintroduce restrictions after Christmas

Austria has announced pans to re-introduce coronavirus restrictions after Christmas, including a 10pm closing time for hospitality venues, in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, health officials have announced.
The new closing time will be imposed on the hospitality sector from 27 December and will remain in place for New Year's Eve, Covid-19 policy co-ordinator Katharina Reich said during a press conference.
She urged the public to celebrate the holiday in small groups and with vaccinated people only.
Reich also announced the classification of the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway as risk areas, meaning arrivals from the countries must go into quarantine if they have not received a booster vaccination.
Austria only emerged from a three-week lockdown 10 days ago but fears have been raised in recent days over the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the country.

Unvaccinated people in Kenya will be banned from public places, the health ministry said, despite a court order last week against the measures.
People will now have to show proof of vaccination to use public transport or enter government offices. Senior health ministry official Mercy Mwangangi said:

In public places, all persons must show proof of vaccination for admission for example into national parks, game reserves, hotels, bars as well as use of public transport.
In the event of non-compliance, action shall be taken, which may include the withdrawal of the licence of the institution.

The proportion of Kenyans with a positive test result has soared recently, from 1% in early December to almost 30% now.

Italy has recorded 36,293 new cases, compared with 30,798 the previous day, the health ministry said.

A further 146 deaths were also reported, taking the total to 136,077. It is the second-highest death toll in Europe after Britain and ninth-highest in the world.
The number of patients in hospital with Covid – not including those in intensive care – stood at 8,544 on Wednesday, up from 8,381 a day earlier. The total number of intensive care patients fell to 1,010 from a previous 1,012.

UK daily cases exceed 100,000 for the first time

The UK recorded 106,122 new Covid cases on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic and the first time cases have passed 100,000.
(Comparisons are only appropriate with the second and third waves, because there was very little testing during the first wave, which kept recorded cases very low.)
Government figures showed a further 140 deaths were also reported, bringing the total to 147,573.

Face masks will once again be compulsory at all times outdoors in Spain, the country’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced.
People will be required to wear a face mask outdoors even when a distance of 1.5m from other people can be maintained.
Sánchez is due to hold a cabinet meeting tomorrow to approve the decree, the Spanish government said in a statement. It is not known yet when the rule will come into effect.
The announcement comes a day after Spain recorded its highest daily case numbers since the pandemic began.

WHO boss: western countries’ Covid booster drives likely to prolong pandemic

Peter Beaumont - The Guardian
The world will have enough doses of Covid vaccines early next year to inoculate all of the global adult population – if western countries do not hoard those vaccines to use in blanket booster programmes, the head of the World Health Organization has said.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday there would be sufficient supplies of vaccine in global circulation in the first quarter of 2022.
“Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the Covid-19 pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate,” Tedros said, adding: “No country can boost its way out of the pandemic.”
His remarks follow predictions by officials with the WHO’s Africa region earlier this month that African countries should receive almost a billion doses within the same timeframe.
Read the full article here:

.
 
US President Joe Biden has tested negative for Covid-19, days after he was in contact with a White House aide who later tested positive for the virus.
The White House announced the results after Biden told reporters hours earlier that he had received a PCR test but was waiting on results.
On Monday, the White House said a “mid-level staff member” who tested positive on Monday had spent about 30 minutes “in proximity to the president” on Air Force One as Biden flew from South Carolina to Pennsylvania on Friday.
The staffer, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, had tested negative before getting on the plane and did not experience symptoms until Sunday, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Belgium to close cinemas and theatres in tightening of Covid measures

Concert halls, cinemas and other entertainment venues in Belgium will close from this weekend because of the surging Omicron variant, the government has announced.
From Sunday, sports fans will not be allowed into stadiums and indoor venues and groups entering a shop will be limited to two adults.
Bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open until 11pm, under curtailed hours imposed since the start of the month.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said although overall Covid infections were down 60% from three weeks ago, worryingly three out of 10 positive tests were now of the Omicron variant.
“We have to be more careful than ever in this period where there are many uncertainties,” he said.
He did not rule out stricter restrictions being brought in if the increase in Omicron cases led to more hospitalisations.

France reported 84,272 new cases, coming close to its all-time high of almost 87,000 cases in November 2020.
The latest figure marks the country’s second-highest this year.
Earlier today, France’s health minister Olivier Véran warned the country could soon have around 100,000 new Covid cases a day. He said no new restrictions were on the table for now, although nothing could be ruled out.

What’s been happening around the world today?

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

• Daily Covid cases in the UK exceed 100,000 for the first time, according to the latest government figures
  
• Vulnerable primary school children in the UK should be offered a low-dose Covid vaccine, government vaccine advisers say
  
• Covid self-isolation will be cut from 10 days down to seven in England after negative lateral flow results on day six and day seven
  
• The UK has signed deals to buy a further 4.25 million courses of antiviral Covid pills for the NHS
  
• Northern Ireland's nightclubs will be closed from 27 December as the nation brings in fresh restrictions to tackle Omicron
  
• And Wales will bring in further coronavirus restrictions on Boxing Day, including 2m social distancing in public places and groups of six in pubs and restaurants, cinemas and theatres
  
• Nigeria has destroyhed more than one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying international donors delivered the vials just before their expiry date, sparing little time for distribution around the country
  
• An early assessment of the Omicron variant in South Africa suggests the risk of severe disease may be lower than with earlier strains of the coronavirus
  
• France announces publicly that it has cancelled its order for Merck & Co's Covid-19 antiviral drug following the publication of disappointing trial data
  
• South Korea is almost doubling its hospital bed capacity for Covid cases as the number of people critically ill with the virus reaches a record high
  
• More than 13 million residents in the Chinese city of Xi'an have been confined to their homes in a strict lockdown ahead of the Winter Olympics
  
• US President Joe Biden has tested negative for Covid-19, days after he was in contact with a White House aide who later tested positive for the virus.
  
• Health regulators in the United States issued an emergency use authorisation for a pill made by Pfizer that can be used to treat Covid-19 at home. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the pill, sold under the brand name Paxlovid, could be used to treat mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults and children 12 years and older, so long as they have tested positive for the virus and are at high risk of severe Covid symptoms.
  
• The UK recorded 106,122 new Covid cases on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic and the first time cases have passed 100,000. Government figures showed a further 140 deaths were also reported, bringing the total to 147,573.
  
• The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in vulnerable primary school children in the UK, following a recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
  
• A maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales from 6am on 26 December, the first minister has announced. The two-metre social distancing rules will also return in public places and outdoor events will be limited to 50, and 30 indoors. Nightclubs in Northern Ireland will close on Boxing Day.
  
• South Africa has reported data on Covid cases driven by the Omicron variant that appears to give added impetus to claims the country is experiencing a lower severity of disease. “In South Africa, this is the epidemiology: Omicron is behaving in a way that is less severe,” said one of the authors of the study.
  
• France reported 84,272 new coronavirus cases today, close to the daily record of just less than 87,000 in November 2020. French health minister Olivier Véran warned the country could soon have around 100,000 new Covid cases a day, but said no new restrictions were on the table for now.
  
• Concert halls, cinemas and other entertainment venues in Belgium will close because of the surging variant, the government announced. From Sunday, no indoor activities will be allowed except for museum visits, exercise, weddings or funerals and sports fans will not be allowed into stadiums.
  
• In Spain, face masks will once again be compulsory at all times outdoors even when a distance of 1.5m from other people can be maintained, the country’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez said. The announcement comes a day after Spain recorded its highest daily case numbers since the pandemic began.
  
  
• Germany’s new health minister Karl Lauterbach suggested a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose would be required in order to protect against Omicron. He said the new variant will become the dominant strain within three weeks and the country has ordered 80m doses of Omicron-specific vaccine for delivery in April or May.
  
• Israel is set to become the first country in the world to offer a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to protect against the Omicron variant. People over the age of 60 and healthcare workers will be eligible for a second booster shot, the prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said.
  
• The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the world will have enough doses of Covid vaccines in the first quarter of 2022 to inoculate all of the global adult population – if western countries do not hoard those vaccines to use in blanket booster programme.
  
• Separately, a WHO official said it is too soon to say whether the new variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant. “We do have some data suggesting that rates of hospitalisation are lower,” said WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, Maria van Kerkhove, but she warned against drawing conclusions from early data because “we have not seen this variant circulate long enough in populations around the world”.
  

Ukraine expects new wave in February

Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s secretary of the national security and defense council, said the country expects a new wave to take off in February, local media Ukrinform reports.
“As of today, the situation is under control. The ongoing fourth wave declines now, we are following it. We expect the next wave to start on February 10 - 15. It all depends on vaccination pace,” Danilov said.
Ukraine experienced spiking cases in late-October and early-November, with daily infections sometimes hitting 27,000.
But in recent weeks the epidemic has receded. Ukraine reported 6,363 Covid cases in the past 24 hours, Ukrinform reported, a 36% decline on the 9,895 new cases on Wednesday two weeks ago.
A further 301 people died from Covid-related causes on Wednesday, down 37% from 480 people on Wednesday two weeks ago.

Denmark will tighten restrictions in schools

With pupils and staff taking two weekly tests, staff and parents urged to wear facemasks and contact reduced between students in efforts to roadblock Omicron.
The new restrictions will begin when students return on 5 January, the education minister, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, said, as reported by the Copenhagen Post. Teachers will be exempt from wearing masks in classrooms.
It comes after schools continue to drive infections. The Post reported that recently, almost 2,500 out of every 100,000 school kids aged six to 11 were infected, twice as many as any other age group.
Denmark has seen cases surge in recent weeks: 13,057 Covid infections were detected on Tuesday, a 106% climb on the 6,324 positive tests on Tuesday two weeks ago.

In the US, Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the president, said on Wednesday that large gatherings of over 40 people during the holiday season are unsafe, even if you’re vaccinated and boosted.
“There are many of these parties that have 30, 40, 50 people in which you do not know the vaccination status of individuals. Those are the kind of functions in the context of Omicron that you do not want to go to,” Fauci said at a White House briefing.

Russia reported 25,264 new Covid infections on Wednesday,
the Moscow Times reports, a 16% decrease on the 30,228 new cases logged on Wednesday two weeks ago.
Russia saw its recent wave spike in early November, when daily case rates nudged close to 40,000, and in recent weeks has seen a receding epidemic.
But death rates remain high. 1,020 people died from Covid-related causes on Wednesday, down 11% on the 1,149 on Wednesday two weeks ago.
But with the Sputnik V vaccine proving little effective against the Omicron variant in an early study – research Russia rejects – there are worries of a resurgent wave. Health authorities said there had been 41 cases of Omicron detected so far on Tuesday.

Full scale of London’s Omicron explosion revealed by borough

Nicholas Cecil - Political editor, Evening Standard
The Omicron explosion in London was laid bare on Wednesday with Covid cases sky-rocketing by more than 200 per cent in a week in eight boroughs, official figures reveal.
They spiralled so fast that all 12 worst hit areas in Britain are in the capital, mainly in inner London.

The data showed:

* Confirmed infections jumped by a startling 261 per cent in Lambeth to 8,873 in the week to December 17, compared to the previous week, with a seven-day rate of 2,757 cases per 100,000 people.
* The hike in Wandsworth was 253 per cent to 8,768 cases, with a rate of 2,659.
* Cases went up 250 per cent in Hackney and City of London to 6,919 cases, with a seven-day rate of 2,371.
* In Islington, infections rose 233 per cent, Tower Hamlets 230 per cent, Camden 209 per cent, Westminster 202 per cent and Southwark 201 per cent.
* In Haringey, they increased 199 per cent, and Hammersmith and Fulham 193 per cent.
* Rises were significantly slower in many outer London boroughs, though still doubled in a further 19 areas ranging from Havering to Harrow, Croydon, Barnet and Kingston.
However, there are signs that the exponential growth in the disease may be slowing in recent days, though, it is still early to say that definitely.
Latest figures, showed there were 27,799 cases announced on Wednesday - above the previous high of 26,608 last Friday.
Health chiefs believe while cases are still rising, the increase may possibly be slowing, having been between 5,600 and 6,900 daily cases at the start of the month.
Hospital admissions of patients with coronavirus in London are now rising more sharply and are up to 301 on December 20, compared to 114 on December 1.

The number of Covid patients in the city’s hospitals was 2,036 on December 22, up from 1,074 on December 1, with 198 so ill that they are on ventilators, a figure which has remained around this level since December 11.
Health chiefs and ministers are pleading with more people to get their booster, as it is thought to give good protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron, and also against hospitalisation and severe disease.
The number of first dose Covid jabs administered in London has risen to 6,268,440, according to the latest figures, second dose innoculations 5,681,532, and 3,177,079 boosters or third doses for individuals vulnerable to the virus.

The detailed figures show that:

* In Lambeth, there were 8873 confirmed cases in the week to December 17, up 6,418 (261.4%) compared to the previous week, with a seven-day rate of  2,757.2 infections per 100,000 people.
* Wandsworth saw 8768 cases, up 6,286 (253.3%), rate 2,659.1
* Hackney and City of London 6919 cases, up 4,940 (249.6%), rate 2,370.5
* Islington 5395 cases, up 3,776 (233.2%) rate 2,174.4
* Tower Hamlets 6243 cases, up 4,351 (230%) rate 1,880.6
* Camden 4536 cases, up 3,069 (209.2%) rate 1,622.8
* Westminster 4125 cases, up 2,759 (202%) rate 1,528.6
* Southwark 7242 cases, up 4,839 (201.4%) rate 2,263
* Haringey 4680 cases, up 3,114 (198.9%) rate 1,757
* Hammersmith and Fulham 4044 cases, up 2,665 (193.3%) rate 2,203.3
* Kensington and Chelsea 2439 cases, up 1,563 (178.4%) rate 1,554.9
* Lewisham 5928 cases, up 3,741 (171.1%) rate 1,941.6
* Merton 3657 cases, up 2,268 (163.3%), rate 1,771.3
* Waltham Forest 4376 cases, up 2,623 (149.6%) rate 1,580.1
* Newham 4488 cases, up 2,622 (140.5%) rate 1,263.3
* Brent 3964 cases, up 2,302 (138.5%) rate 1,209.4
* Greenwich 4808 cases, up 2,767 (135.6%) rate 1,663.5
* Havering 3760 cases, up 2,132 (131%) rate 1,442.5
* Bromley 5173 cases, up 2,916 (129.2%) rate 1,554.6
* Ealing 4352, cases, up 2,429 (126.3%) rate 1,278.7
* Bexley 3549 cases, up 1,970 (124.8%) rate 1,423.6
* Croydon 5613 cases, up 3,102 (123.5%) rate 1,444.6
* Enfield 3987 cases, up 2,194 (122.4%) rate 1,195.2
* Barking and Dagenham 2850 cases, up 1,562 (121.3%) rate 1,331.1
* Richmond 3146 cases, up 1,702 (117.9%) rate 1,587.8
* Redbridge 3546 cases, up 1,855 (109.7%) rate 1,160.1
* Kingston 2633 cases, up 1,377 (109.6%) rate 1,469.8
* Barnet 4507 cases, up 2,342 (108.2%) rate 1,129.6
* Harrow 2557 cases, up 1,325 (107.5%) rate 1,013.3
* Hillingdon 2888 cases, up 1,400 (94.1%) rate 934.6
* Hounslow 2869 cases, up 1,368 (91.1%) rate 1,055.7
* Sutton 2973 cases, up 1,417 (91.1%) rate 1,431.3