Boris Johnson has announced tougher Covid-19 measures in England to control the spread of the Omicron variant
Guidance to work from home will return on Monday and face masks will also have to be worn in more public venues
Covid passes proving vaccination or a negative test will be required at nightclubs and venues with large crowds
The Plan B restrictions are "proportionate and responsible", the PM says
Health Secretary Sajid Javid meanwhile tells the Commons that Omicron is much more transmissible than the Delta variant
Earlier the PM apologised for a video that showed his staff joking about a Christmas party held during lockdown last December and ordered an inquiry
The Met Police has said it will not investigate the video because it does not "provide evidence" regulations were breached
Allegra Stratton, who was Johnson's spokeswoman at the time, has resigned from No 10 over the video
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Image source, PAIt's been an eventful and fast-moving day of developments in the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a round-up of the main stories:
Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva
Image source, Getty ImagesAt its weekly Covid 19 briefing, today the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was some initial evidence that the Omicron variant was more infectious, that vaccines could be somewhat less effective against it, but that its health effects might be less severe.
But officials stressed that more research is needed, and warned again that countries must act now to prepare for another pandemic wave.
A priority must be vaccinating the unvaccinated, and reliable public health measures such as mask wearing, testing, and social distancing.
The head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told governments waiting to act until hospitals started to fill up would be too late.
WHO officials also said booster vaccines should not be a priority - saying all the evidence shows existing vaccines provide good protection against severe illness, hospitalisations, and death.
Governments must instead make every effort to reach vaccine hesitant people, and ramp up mass vaccination in largely unvaccinated countries.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe new rule for some venues to introduce Covid certification is an "unfair double standard" the live music industry says.
Pubs and bars will not have to ask for Covid passports "whilst live music venues get hit with certification", according to industry trade association Live.
Covid health certificates will be required for people to enter English unseated indoor venues with more than 500 attendees.
Meanwhile, The Theatres Trust said the rise of the Omicron variant and the new measures will "have a big impact on the willingness of people to travel and go to theatres over Christmas".
The organisation's director Jon Morgan said: "This will have a knock-on effect on theatres’ viability at a vital time of year for the industry and Christmas shows that are just emerging from the significant loss of revenue in 2020 and early 2021."
Image source, House of CommonsMark Harper and other Tory backbenchers expressed opposition to Plan B
Back to the announcement of Plan B restrictions for England - and there is an indication that some backbench Tory MPs will not support the government when it puts them to a vote.
The Workington MP Mark Jenkinson says the rules are "divisive, discriminatory and are unlikely to stop spread".
In a tweet, external, he adds the health secretary, who addressed MPs at the same time the prime minister made his announcement, "offered no evidence for further restrictions... just as businesses desperately need a good Christmas".
Instead, vaccination was key in the response to the Omicron variant he said.
East Devon MP Simon Jupp says Plan B will cost jobs in many sectors, including hospitality. While working from home won’t help social or economic recovery.
And former chief whip Mark Harper suggests the "initial evidence on Omicron doesn't support these measures".
Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesProf Chris Whitty says vaccines are a useful way to prevent serious infection
Introducing more restrictions in England just before Christmas for the second year running is, of course, depressing.
But this is vastly different from last year. Then, large parts of the country were put into what was effectively lockdown with tier four.
A full national lockdown followed in the new year.
This time, with these latest Plan B measures, society is being kept open - just with extra precautions being taken.
As England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said, we are in an immeasurably better position now.
That is down to immunity built up by vaccination and previous infection.
This variant can dodge some of those defences - but not all.
A step back, but by no means a return to square one.
Dominic Hughes
Health correspondent, in Preston
Angela Roberts got her booster jab this morning
There's been lots going on today but one important thing to remind you of is that people aged 40 and over in England can now book their booster jab for three months after their second dose.
Angela Roberts, who lives in Hutton, just outside Preston, was one of the first to get a booster at the vaccination hub in the town centre this morning.
“Everybody needs to have it done, it’s important that you protect yourself," she said.
Around 700 people will get a jab here today – although there have been days when 1,000 vaccines were delivered.
Reflecting on the fact that it’s a year to the day since the first Covid vaccine jab was given to Margaret Keenan, Angela said lots had changed.
“It is just amazing, we just need it carrying on and to get us all protected.”
Image source, Getty ImagesAs the government announces new "vaccine passport" requirements for night clubs, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned of a "devastating impact" on the sector.
It's also questioned whether the move was an attempt to distract attention from a "damaging story about the Downing Street Christmas party".
From 15 December, NHS Covid passes will become mandatory for indoor unseated venues holding more than 500 people, and outdoor venues with a capacity of more than 4,000.
Two vaccine doses will be sufficient for the pass, but this will be kept under review.
A negative lateral flow test will also be acceptable.
Image source, Getty ImagesPeople in England will soon need to show their Covid status to get into nightclubs and many other large venues.
What are the new rules?
In England, people will need to use their NHS Covid Pass, external to gain entry to:
People can also show proof of a negative result from a recent lateral flow test.
Businesses have a week to introduce the measures.
How do I get a Covid passport?
You can get the pass if you're 18 or over, registered with a GP, and meet any one of the following:
Get the full details across the UK here.
Image source, EPAOlaf Scholz says goodbye to his predecessor Angela Merkel at the chancellery in Berlin
The Covid crisis is the biggest challenge facing the country, Germany's new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, says.
After formally taking power from Angela Merkel following her historic 16 years as leader, Scholz acknowledged that he had taken control of Europe's largest economy in the middle of an aggressive fourth wave of Covid infections.
"We know that the transition that we are making here now is taking place in the middle of a large, ongoing crisis that calls for continuity and community and I think we will manage that," he said in Berlin.
Scholz said, however, that it would only be possible to fight the virus if the public got vaccinated and received their booster shots as soon as possible.
The soft-spoken 63-year-old also said that restrictions such as mask wearing and social distancing needed to be followed.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrench government spokesman Gabriel Attal says Covid is spreading quickly in the country
France's fifth wave of Covid infections has not yet peaked and so a fourth vaccine shot might be needed to help keep things under control, officials have warned.
"It's still spreading quickly and will continue to do so in the coming weeks," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said.
Meanwhile, government adviser Jean-Francois Delfraissy said: "For now, there's a call for one booster shot. Will that be enough? I don't know. Maybe we'll need a fourth shot."
Last week, French health authorities said the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was likely to become the most prevalent variant in the country by early next year.
Health Minister Olivier Véran said France's fifth Covid wave was spreading fast and having a big impact on hospitals, with a patient admitted to intensive care on average every 10 minutes.
Image source, ReutersFrance recorded more than 59,000 cases on Wednesday
Away from events in the UK, France has recorded its highest daily Covid cases since November 2020.
The country reported 59,019 Covid cases on Wednesday with 168 Covid deaths.
Europe’s Covid rate has been rising rapidly in recent weeks and new restrictions have been imposed in a number of nations.
Austria, which is back under lockdown, has announced mandatory vaccinations while Germany is also mulling making jabs compulsory.
Belgium has tightened rules on face masks and Italy has introduced a "green pass" which is required at workplaces, venues and on public transport.
Last month The World Health Organization said it was “very worried” about the spread of Covid-19 in Europe.
Speaking to the BBC, regional director Dr Hans Kluge warned that 500,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is taken.
Iain Watson
Political correspondent
Image source, PA MediaArmed with a hastily arranged inquiry and the resignation of his former spokesperson Allegra Stratton, the prime minister could demonstrate at his press conference that that he wasn't hiding from questions on the Downing Street party of last year.
There were caveats to his "guidance was followed" mantra - such as "as far as I am aware" - and he was pushed to broaden the remit of the cabinet secretary's inquiry.
But in replying to Laura Kuenssberg's question on trust, he emphasised his trust in the British people rather than fully addressing whether they could trust him.
As many of the Plan B measures won't be introduced until next week, questions will inevitably be asked about whether the public health message would have landed with more impact had the press conference been held on a different day.
His critics - and that includes some Conservatives - say he was indulging in a "dead cat" strategy to divert attention from whatever had been going on behind the black door of Downing Street.
But it seemed at this press conference that the feline was still alive and prowling around the prime minister.
Image source, Mike PalmerChristmas trade is incredibly important, says restaurant owner David Abramovitch
While some companies, such as delivery firms, thrived under England's working from home rules, others fear more uncertainty from the government's latest Plan B guidance.
David Abramovitch, co-founder of Grind, says his chain of nine café restaurants in London were just starting to get back on their financial feet after the previous lockdown.
It will be "painful" to go into "reverse gear again", he tells the BBC. "Already we've seen a big drop-off in Christmas party bookings since the Omicron variant emerged."
Meanwhile Ruth, a dentist, says she feels like people have learned enough to keep working as they are.
"With the vaccinations and the [personal protective equipment], we have to learn to live with these things. If you lock people down constantly, they're not going to behave themselves."
Image source, PA MediaAllegra Stratton made a tearful statement earlier today after a video of her joking with colleagues emerged
The Metropolitan Police will not launch an investigation into the video of No 10 staff joking about holding a Christmas party when London was under Tier 3 restrictions last year.
They say the video "does not provide evidence of a breach" of health regulations and instead "restates allegations made in the media".
In a statement, the force says it had received "a significant amount of correspondence" over the video, obtained by ITV.
It adds that any evidence found as part of the Cabinet Office inquiry will be passed to the Met for further consideration.
Read our full story here.
Reality Check
Image source, Getty ImagesThe prime minister maintained at his press conference that: “To the best of my knowledge, we have followed the rules throughout.“
He had been questioned about why the cabinet secretary had been asked to look into the Downing Street party on 18 December last year and the Department for Education party, but not a number of other parties that have been reported to have taken place.
At the time, the government’s guidance specifically said that there should not be Christmas parties.
London was in Tier 3 restrictions on 18 December 2020 and the law said that there should not be indoor gatherings - unless they were “reasonably necessary” for work.
You can read more details about what the Covid rules were at the time here.
Laura Kuenssberg challenges PM over new restrictions
Amid fallout from the row over a Christmas party at Downing Street in 2020, the BBC's Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg asked Boris Johnson how he could tell people they must now follow new restrictions.
Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent
Why all these changes announced today?
A fresh analysis published by the UK Health Security Agency suggests the Omicron variant will be responsible for at least 50% of Covid cases within two to four weeks.
The prediction is based on the number of cases judged to be suspected Omicron from testing data.
That shows around 2% of daily cases are being caused by the new variant. If that is correct it would mean there are about 1,000 Omicron cases every 24 hours.
What is more, the cases are thought to be doubling every two or three days.
What is not yet known is whether Omicron will completely replace Delta, the variant that is currently dominant.
if you missed all that, the government has announced new Covid rules for England, in response to concern over the Omicron variant.
Here's a sum-up of the latest rules and you can read more here in our guide.
Omicron: Boris Johnson announces Plan B Covid rules for England
In that press conference from Downing Street just now, Boris Johnson unveiled the "Plan B" Covid rules for England.
This means that people should start working from home where necessary from Monday.
Mask wearing is going to become a more common sight again, as indoor public venues such as cinemas and theatres will require masks from Friday.
An NHS Covid pass, proving vaccination or a negative test, will be requires for nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather from a week's time.
Daily testing will be a requirement for those who come into contact with a positive case of Covid.