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05:44
Omicron is spreading quickly in nations with excessive ranges of inhabitants immunity, however it’s unclear if that is as a result of virus’ means to evade immunity, its inherent elevated transmissibility or a mixture of each, the World Well being Group has stated.
In its newest technical replace on the coronavirus pandemic, the UN well being company stated information on the medical severity of Omicron stays restricted.
“Extra information are wanted to know the severity profile and the way severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity,” the WHO stated.
It added, “There are nonetheless restricted accessible information, and no peer-reviewed proof, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness thus far for Omicron”.
With circumstances rising so quickly, hospitals could possibly be overwhelmed in some locations. “Hospitalisations within the UK and South Africa proceed to rise, and given quickly rising case counts, it’s doable that many healthcare programs could change into shortly overwhelmed.”
05:25
Omicron spreads considerably quicker than Delta, says WHO
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading considerably quicker than the Delta pressure in nations with documented neighborhood transmission, with a doubling time of 1.5- to three days, the World Well being Group has stated.
The Omicron variant, which was designated as a variant of concern on 26 November, has been recognized in 89 nations throughout all six WHO areas as of 16 December, Reuters quoted the WHO as saying.
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05:13
An announcement on a strict Christmas lockdown is predicted within the Netherlands, with the federal government anticipated to shut every little thing however important outlets.
The federal government is assembly on Saturday with its well being specialists who’ve advisable the closure of all non-essential outlets, colleges, bars, eating places and different public venues.
The Dutch nationwide broadcaster, NOS, and the information company ANP cited authorities sources saying a press convention asserting the brand new measures can be held at 7pm. Nonetheless, a spokesman for the well being ministry, Axel Dees, declined to touch upon any proposed measures or the timing of any press convention.
It is just days because the authorities ordered that the 5pm to 5am closure of bars, eating places and most shops, launched in late November, would proceed till 14 January.
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04:47
Greater than 1.18bn individuals in China have been totally vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, a spokesperson for the nation’s nationwide well being fee has stated.
Mi Feng informed a press convention on Saturday that greater than 2.66bn Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered.
“China is assembly the rising pressures of guarding in opposition to inbound circumstances, with a complete of 77 nations and areas having reported circumstances of the Omicron variant of Covid-19,” Mi was quoted as saying by China’s state-run Xinhua information company.
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04:20
Portugal turned the newest nation to widen distribution of Covid vaccines to youngsters over 5 on Saturday.
Greater than 60,000 youngsters aged between 5 and 11 have been set to obtain their first jab of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine this weekend within the nation, which already has 88.9% vaccine protection in older teams.
France is about to observe swimsuit subsequent week.
The EU’s medicines watchdog final month accepted a lower-dosage Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds, an age group experiencing excessive coronavirus an infection charges throughout the continent.
Denmark, the place there was a surge in circumstances attributed to the brand new Omicron variant, and a few Austrian areas started providing vaccines to youthful youngsters in November.
The US was the primary giant nation to widen entry to younger youngsters and has up to now vaccinated greater than 5m within the five-to-11 age bracket.
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04:07
Plans are being formulated for a two-week “circuit breaker” lockdown in England after Christmas, though a ultimate determination on new restrictions is but to be taken, the Instances studies.
The draft rules would return England to comparable restrictions as these seen in spring, with indoor mixing banned aside from work functions and pubs and eating places restricted to desk service outdoor.
Faculties and outlets would stay open, however the “rule of six” can be reimposed for conferences with family and friends, weddings and funerals can be restricted to fifteen to 30 individuals, and the most-vulnerable would as soon as once more be suggested to “defend”.
In accordance with the Instances, some sources stated planning was below approach to recall parliament subsequent week to debate the restrictions. They might show politically tough for the prime minister, after a rebel by 100 of his MPs in opposition to the plan B restrictions, together with Covid passes for public occasions, earlier this week.
03:46
The soccer grounds Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Wembley and the racecourses, Sandown Park, Tub and Chelmsford are among the many virtually 3,000 websites taken over by vaccination centres in England this weekend.
Different venues open this weekend embrace the Christmas Market at Chester Cathedral, the Liverpool Christmas Ice Competition, Bluewater purchasing centre in Kent and London’s Oxford Avenue, the place there might be a vaccine bus.
Greater than 21 million booster jabs have been delivered by the NHS in England up to now, NHS England stated. On Monday Boris Johnson introduced that the federal government would purpose to supply a booster to each single grownup within the UK by the top of December.
Many vaccination websites throughout the nation are working 12 hours a day, seven days every week, the NHS informed the PA Media information company, including that in each neighborhood there ought to be slots accessible at the very least 16 hours a day.
NHS nationwide medical director, Prof Stephen Powis, stated: “From stadiums to racecourses and cellular buses to Christmas markets, NHS Covid vaccination programme, the largest and most profitable in our historical past, is pulling out all of the stops to make it simpler than ever.
“Due to the laborious work of our well being service workers and sensible volunteers we’ve already delivered file boosters up to now this week however we wish to sustain the momentum so when you haven’t taken up the supply but get boosted now.”
Up to date
03:40
Olivier Veran, France’s well being minister, has stated the unfold of the Omicron variant is the principle cause behind plans for stricter vaccine go measures.
Below the present rules, a current detrimental Covid take a look at is ample for getting into many indoor public locations, however a brand new well being go set to be launched early subsequent yr would require individuals to indicate proof of vaccination to enter eating places and long-distance public transport.
Veran, talking on France Inter radio, additionally stated that he anticipated that early subsequent week the French well being authority will give the inexperienced gentle to start out providing coronavirus vaccinations to youngsters aged 5 to 11.
03:31
Seven to 10% of recent confirmed coronavirus circumstances in France are suspected to be of the Omicron variant, the nation’s well being minister, Olivier Veran, stated on Saturday, as a ban on travellers from the UK comes into drive.
From Saturday morning, travellers will solely be allowed to enter France from the UK if they’re travelling for “compelling causes”, until they’re French nationals, residents or hauliers.
Even then, these desirous to journey must present a detrimental Covid take a look at and self-isolate for 2 days after arriving within the nation.
On Saturday, Veran stated the fast unfold of the brand new variant was the principle cause for the deliberate introduction of a brand new vaccination go early subsequent yr, which would require that individuals present proof of vaccination to enter eating places and long-distance public transport.
Below the present well being go regulation, a current detrimental Covid take a look at is ample for getting into public locations.
03:31
Stricter Covid restrictions have to be launched “very quickly” in England to forestall hospital admissions rising to three,000 a day, in keeping with leaked minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, seen by BBC Information.
The leaked minutes, from a gathering of presidency scientific specialists held on Thursday, warn that any delay in imposing new restrictions “would drastically scale back the effectiveness”.
Thus far the federal government has taken a comparatively gentle contact regardless of fears of the fast unfold of the Omicron variant, with the UK setting new information for lab-confirmed circumstances of Covid-19 for 2 days in a row this week.
The Sage minutes say: “If the purpose is to cut back the degrees of an infection within the inhabitants and forestall hospitalisations reaching these ranges, extra stringent measures would must be applied very quickly.”
“The timing of such measures is essential,” say the Sage minutes. “Delaying till 2022 would drastically scale back the effectiveness of such interventions and make it much less doubtless that these would stop appreciable stress on well being and care settings.”
That is Damien Gayle kicking off the Guardian’s coronavirus reside weblog protection this morning. All day I might be bringing you the newest Covid-related updates and headlines.
Seen a narrative you suppose we ought to be masking? Drop me a line on my Twitter profile @damiengayle, or through electronic mail to damien.gayle@theguardian.com
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