A further 93,045 Covid cases have been confirmed in the UK - another record high as the Omicron variant drives a spike in infections
And another 111 deaths are reported within 28 days of a positive test
Wales must introduce further restrictions because “the storm of Omicron is coming our way”, First Minister Mark Drakeford says
In a press conference at the same time, Nicola Sturgeon warns the "tsunami is starting to hit" Scotland
From 27 December, nightclubs in Wales must close in response to the Omicron variant
Social distancing will also be required in shops and workplaces
In Scotland, people have already been advised to limit socialising to three households in the run-up to Christmas
And President Biden warns unvaccinated Americans faces a winter of severe illness and death because of Omicron
Thanks for joining us. Today's contributors were Becky Morton, Doug Faulkner, Jo Couzens, Matt Murphy and Dulcie Lee. The live page was edited by Emma Harrison and James Clarke.
As ever, you can follow any major developments on the news site - just go to the front page. And for more in-depth coverage, you can go to our dedicated coronavirus section, here.
Image source, PA MediaWe’ll be ending our live coverage for today shortly but, before we go, here’s a reminder of today’s main coronavirus headlines from the UK and around the world:
Philippa Roxby
Health reporter, BBC News
Image source, Getty ImagesNew data on Omicron has been released by the UK Health Security Agency based on people infected so far.
It shows that 18% of people with Omicron infected someone else in their household, compared to 10% of people who tested positive with Delta.
The percentage of people infecting others outside their household was also higher for Omicron than for Delta - nearly 9% compared to 3%.
People are also more likely to be reinfected with Omicron after having had a previous coronavirus infection.
And studies show that lateral flow tests are just as good at detecting Omicron as they are at detecting the Delta variant of the virus.
As a result, health officials are urging people to test regularly, particularly before attending social gatherings.
Image source, Getty ImagesDenmark's prime minister has announced that her government intends to propose new restrictions to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus and the new Omicron variant, which now accounts for a fifth of all cases registered in the country.
Denmark has seen cases rise rapidly over the past week and daily infections broke another record on Friday as 11,194 Covid cases were recorded. The country has recorded a total of 9,009 Omicron infections so far.
"In record time, the rules of the game have again been changed," Mette Frederiksen said at a news conference on Friday.
The new restrictions, which will need approval from parliament, include plans to close a host of venues such as theatres, cinemas, entertainment parks and conference centres.
Frederiksen also proposed to ban the serving of alcohol after 22:00 local time and urged Danes to limit their social contacts in the run up to Christmas.
Despite the increase in cases, the country is in a better position than it was last Christmas, with death rates and hospital admissions significantly below the previous peak.
Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
Image source, Getty ImagesSeven Covid cases have been recorded in Taiwan today, and while by international standards this number might seem low, it is the highest number of cases in more than three months.
There has been renewed concern about a potential outbreak in Taiwan this week after clusters of cases were identified at two quarantine hotels: one in Taipei and one in Taoyuan.
Outbreaks amongst people on the same floors led to suspicions of cross-contamination, which have now been confirmed. As a result, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) has classified these cases as locally-transmitted.
These new cases have led to the CECC making it mandatory that all arrivals now undergo six Covid-19 tests. It has also urged increased inspections and ventilation at quarantine hotels.
Taiwan has consistently recorded a single case or zero cases since 20 September.
These latest developments come shortly on the heels of Taiwan reopening its borders, to allow an influx of people to return for the Lunar New Year.
Relaxed rules were introduced from Tuesday meaning that arrivals can stay a minimum of seven days at a quarantine facility, rather than the previously-mandated 14-days. This is on the condition that they self-isolate at home, and carry out regular PCR tests.
Anna Baldwin had planned a family trip to Disneyland for Christmas
From tonight only those with "compelling reasons" will be able to travel from the UK to France, meaning last-minute cancellations for families who had booked holidays.
Mum-of-two Anna Baldwin is "devastated" a surprise trip to Disneyland for her sons' Christmas present won't be able to go ahead.
As well as the cost of tests she's already paid for, Anna is also worried about the extra expense on things like food for a Christmas at home.
Meanwhile, businesses have also been hit. Victor Dapremont, a sales manager for the Mademoiselle Hotel in Paris, says 80% of guests coming from England have cancelled their bookings, with Brits normally making up around a third of guests.
Read more about the impact on holidaymakers and businesses here.
Andrew Kerr
Scottish political correspondent
Boris Johnson and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have held talks on coronavirus funding amid the threat of the Omicron variant - but no extra money is heading to Scotland at the moment.
The BBC understands the Scottish government thinks the talks were constructive but inconclusive. More talks between the PM and devolved administrations are due this weekend.
Earlier, Sturgeon said it would be "unconscionable" if more money was not allocated by the UK government "very quickly".
The BBC has approached the UK Treasury for comment.
Read more on the latest Covid situation in Scotland here.
Rising Covid cases have left London's fire and rescue service with "unprecedented" staff shortages, the Fire Brigades Union says.
According to London Fire Brigade statistics 40 fire engines, out of a total of 142, were unavailable on both the day and night shift on Thursday - a level also reached for at least parts of the 10, 11 and 15 December.
The union says Covid has been skyrocketing in the service as the Omicron variant has taken hold in the capital, with almost 10% of operational firefighters now either having tested positive or self-isolating.
It says Covid-related shortages are having a greater impact due to "already low levels of fire and rescue staffing in the capital".
The union's London regional secretary Jon Lambe says Omicron is having a "devastating impact" on the London Fire Brigade.
Image source, Cosmo WilsonCosmo (centre) will spend Christmas with a friend
We've been hearing today from people who have tested positive for Covid who will now have to isolate over Christmas. Cosmo Wilson is among those who will be spending Christmas away from family - for the second year running - after testing positive for Covid.
Last year the UK's travel restrictions meant he couldn't fly back to see his parents in Thailand, so he spent the festive season with friends in Nottingham instead.
This year he had been planning to stay with his sister and their aunt and uncle, in Uckfield, East Sussex.
But the 22-year-old waiter tested positive this week and his self-isolation ends as the clock ticks past midnight into Christmas Day. So he'll spend the day in London with a friend instead.
Cosmo says seeing the positive test result was a "jarring" moment.
"The main feeling was just disbelief," he tells Newsbeat.
Image source, PA MediaThe man heading an investigation into lockdown parties at Downing Street invited staff to a "Christmas party" in his office last year.
Top civil servant Simon Case is due to report shortly on claims Covid rules were broken at events for staff in the run up to last Christmas.
But the BBC has been told that Case's position as chairman of the inquiry is now under consideration.
The Cabinet Office has been asked to comment.
We'll bring you more on this developing story as we get it.
Robert Cuffe
BBC head of statistics
Image source, PA MediaWe were expecting these case figures to go up - and we can expect them to go up further.
The number of people getting tested is up about 20% in a week - but the case numbers are up about 40% in the same time.
And we can expect that to go up further because when you look at London and Scotland - the two parts of the UK where Omicron is furthest advanced - cases are rising even faster there.
So how long will it go on for? The modellers aren't sure yet.
They're talking about peaks early in the new year - if you keep on doubling and doubling and doubling cases, there'll eventually be more people getting infected than there are people in the UK - so there is a limit on this.
The real question - which still hasn't been answered - then becomes: how ill does it make people and how much pressure is it going to put on the healthcare system?
Here are some graphics explaining the latest coronavirus situation in the UK.
UK case numbers continued to climb today, with another 93,045 infections reported on Friday - a record high for a third consecutive day
Deaths remain stable - but it's worth remembering this current spike in Omicron cases won't be reflected in these figures yet
There are more than 7,000 Covid patients in hospital in the UK
The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has increased by 132,836 or 38.6% in the last seven days, compared to the previous week, according to the government figures.
The number of daily deaths reported has decreased by 4.5% in the last seven days, compared to 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.
A further 93,045 coronavirus cases have been reported in the UK, according to the government's daily figures, external.
There have also been another 111 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
The UK reported 88,376 cases yesterday.
Image source, Molly NancarrowMolly Nancarrow felt "very stressed, anxious and overwhelmed" when her lateral flow test came back positive for Covid on Tuesday.
"I just can't believe this is happening," the 20-year-old tells Newsbeat.
Molly, who's a student at the University of Gloucestershire, says it's "heartbreaking" to be missing the build-up to Christmas with her family in Bath because the days before 25 December make the day itself "more magical".
"It's what gets me in the Christmas mood, spending time with my family. Being on my own is going to make it a little bit harder."
Instead of going on walks and visiting Christmas markets with her mum, step-dad and brothers, Molly's going to spend time on FaceTime with them instead.
She's waiting on a PCR test result, but no matter what comes back, she says she'll stay away from home until she's feeling better because her brothers are vulnerable.
Read more of Molly's story here.
Some more now on the study we reported on earlier from Imperial College London.
Their researchers say the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant is 5.4 times greater than with the Delta variant.
The study suggests protection against reinfection by Omicron from past infection may be as low as 19%.
According to the data, boosters are vital in controlling Omicron, and could provide around 85% protection against severe illness, as we reported a short while ago.
But researchers say they may lose some effectiveness over time.
They estimate the proportion of Omicron among all Covid cases between 29 November and 11 December was doubling every two days up to 11 December.
Based on this, they also estimate the reproduction number (R) of Omicron was above 3, over the period studied.
Kerry Allen
BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
Image source, Getty ImagesYesterday, China recorded its 100,000th case of Covid-19 since the very start of the pandemic.
There have only been 56 locally-transmitted cases of the virus in the last 24 hours. The majority of cases are in two hotspots: the eastern province of Zhejiang (which neighbours Shanghai), and the northern reaches of Inner Mongolia.
Cases have remained low in recent months in China, due to the country’s zero-Covid policy. This involves locking down communities the moment one person tests positive, and mass-testing large populations for any “silent carriers”.
Officials have projected that this strategy will remain in place until the spring.
The country is now introducing new restrictions ahead of the festive period. It is anticipating increased travel over Christmas, and ahead of the 2022 Lunar New Year, which will fall on 1 February.
Today, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is enforcing rules that cross-border provincial tourism be suspended if any cases are detected in land border cities or ports, in order to prevent cases at China’s borders spreading more inland.
Official media are also noting today that many areas, including the cities of Beijing and Xi’an, are making it a requirement that travellers in the new year show a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of travel.
Image source, Getty ImagesRonan O'Gara's La Rochelle side were due to travel to play Bath on Saturday before the travel ban
We've just heard about Covid causing disruption in England's Premier League.
Now, it's been announced that five Heineken Champions Cup fixtures between French and British Rugby Union teams have been postponed this weekend, as well as two games from the European Challenge Cup.
The announcement follows the French government's decision on Thursday to ban all non-essential travel to and from the UK and to tighten testing requirements for travellers.
The French sports ministry told Reuters they had been "working on getting an exemption through meetings with the government's crisis unit".
Despite the decision, Welsh side Dragons will play Lyon tonight, with the French team due to return immediately after the game and before the border restrictions come into force.
The blanket postponement may cause some controversy as it comes after Saturday's clash between Ospreys and Racing 92 was cancelled due to a number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Welsh side. Irish side Leinster had to forfeit their game against Montpellier for similar reasons.
The Irish side is said to be furious after organisers handed them 28-0 defeat for their inability to fulfil the fixture.
The UK has recorded 3,201 new cases of the Omicron variant, up from yesterday's figure of 1,691.
It takes the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 14,909 - although the true figure is believed to be much higher because not all labs can detect the variant and not everyone will come forward for testing.
Image source, ReutersFootball fans have their Covid passes checked at the Chelsea v Everton match
Premier League clubs will meet on Monday to discuss the escalating crisis around the coronavirus pandemic with nine games postponed over the past week - including five already from this weekend's 10-match fixture list.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is leading calls for games to be postponed until Boxing Day to enable a reset, while others have asked for clarity on the situation.
Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has cancelled a press conference after returning an inconclusive coronavirus test result.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston says getting vaccinated is "the socially responsible thing to do" after the English Football League confirmed on Thursday that one in four players in its competitions had no intention to receive a single vaccine at this stage.
Shadow Sports Minister Jeff Smith echoes his call, saying that as "role models" he would urge any footballers not yet vaccinated to do so.