UK

The UK has recorded 448 new Omicron cases in the latest 24-hour period – taking the total across the country to 1,265. It comes after 249 new infections of the COVID-19 variant were reported on Thursday. The latest figures released by the UK Health Security Agency show 443 cases have been recorded in England, one

Further measures to control the spread of the Omicron variant come into force in England today – while people in Scotland are urged to defer Christmas parties in response to the variant. The legal requirement to wear masks has been extended in England to cover more indoor spaces including cinemas, theatres, churches, museums, galleries and

Boris Johnson’s most senior communications adviser addressed staff and handed out awards on the night of the alleged Downing Street party, it is understood. Jack Doyle, the director of communications in Number 10, thanked staff working there “like he does every week”. Downing Street Christmas parties: How many events are now under investigation and when

Boris Johnson has warned the Omicron COVID variant is “growing much faster” than Delta and its doubling rate could be between two and three days. Speaking during a Downing Street news conference, where he also announced the introduction of Plan B restrictions in England, the Prime Minister said Omicron’s “severity, its exact rate of transmission

Boris Johnson has toughened coronavirus measures in England amid concern over the increasing spread of the Omicron variant. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on Wednesday evening, the prime minister announced the measures in the government’s “Plan B” for dealing with COVID-19 this winter. Mr Johnson said it had become “increasingly clear” that Omicron,

Storm Barra is not quite done with the UK yet – more ice, wind, and rain are on the way, with flooding expected in some parts. Dozens of flood warnings have been issued across the UK, even as communities in the North East and Scotland are still recovering from the last storm – Arwen, which

Labour has accused Number 10 staff of “laughing” at the British public after footage emerged of Downing Street officials joking about a Christmas party during a time of strict COVID restrictions. In a video recording of what ITV News reported was a rehearsal for a TV media briefing, senior Number 10 aides were filmed talking

People arriving in the UK from overseas now have to take a COVID-19 test before they travel, under new rules designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The changes, which came into effect at 4am on Tuesday, will mean: • Anyone travelling from countries that are not on the red list must take

Cases of the Omicron variant in people without any travel history have been confirmed in the UK meaning it is now being transmitted within the community, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. Mr Javid said there are now 261 Omicron variant cases in England, 71 in Scotland and four in Wales – a total of 336.

The grandfather of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has said that the couple behind his death “must never see the light of day again”. Arthur, a six-year-old from Solihull, West Midlands, was poisoned, starved and beaten by his father’s girlfriend Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, in a prolonged campaign of “evil abuse”. Tustin was

A further 86 cases of the new Omicron COVID variant have been reported in the UK, taking the total to 246. This compares with a total of 160 yesterday – an increase of more than 50%. The UK Health Security Agency, which publishes the figures, says 18 of the cases are in Scotland, taking its

The NHS is planning to roll out a “game-changing” anti-viral pill that people who have tested positive for coronavirus can take at home. Molnupiravir, sometimes known as Lagevrio, could be offered to the most vulnerable patients by Christmas, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Health Secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly preparing to announce the start of

All international arrivals to the UK will again be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variant, the health secretary has announced. The rule applies to all travellers visiting the UK or returning from a holiday, regardless of vaccination status, and will come into force from 4am on

Unvaccinated women who suffered serious complications from COVID-19 during pregnancy have shared their “terrifying” stories to help encourage expectant mothers to get the jab. The three mothers, whose ordeals included emergency C-sections and coming close to death, feature in a new video as part of a campaign by the Department of Health and Social Care

More than half the confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant in the UK have occurred following at least two vaccination doses, health officials have said. A new technical briefing from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says 12 of the 22 known cases up to 30 November had been fully vaccinated. Another two people

France has rejected the idea of a joint British-French patrol in the English Channel to deal with the rising number of migrant crossing – but said Paris officials are “ready to pursue our operational cooperation” with the UK. Writing to Boris Johnson, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told his British counterpart that his country “cannot

The UK has recorded 53,945 new cases of coronavirus – the highest daily figure since mid-July following the European football championship. The last time more cases were reported was on 17 July, when 54,674 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, six days after the tournament’s final at Wembley. Public Health England previously said that England’s deep

A family of four is gearing up for a second Christmas shielding at home after the father was told he had a brain tumour. Greg Priddy was diagnosed with cancer at the end of November last year, after his strange behaviour and sudden weakness on his left side prompted his wife to make him seek

Some Omicron cases are reportedly experiencing “mild” symptoms and experts should have more information about the transmission of the new COVID variant within days, an epidemiologist at the World Health Organisation has said. Speaking at a news conference, Maria van Kerkhove said one of the possible scenarios is that Omicron may become more transmissible than

The government plans to offer booster vaccines to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of January, Boris Johnson has said. Speaking at a Downing Street news briefing on Tuesday, the PM said the rollout of booster programme will go in age order, and that there will be more than 1,500 community pharmacy