More than one million people were given a Covid-19 vaccine dose on Saturday - the highest single daily jab figure on record.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid hailed this achievement on Twitter, thanking the NHS, armed forces, volunteers and the British public for their help reaching the milestone.

There were 1,024,833 jabs in total given out on Saturday, 940,606 of which were booster or third doses.

Vaccinations dropped to 919,521 on Sunday, but this is still the fourth highest total on record - beaten only by the number of doses administered on Thursday and Friday.

The news means 50.4% of the UK population - nearly 29 million people - have had a booster dose, with 81.8% having had two jabs and 89.5% one dose.

We just brought you the UK's latest coronavirus figures - take a look at the charts below for more detail on the virus picture across the country.

Image source, Reuters

Nearly half of London's top theatres had to cancel performances this weekend due to Covid cases, as Omicron disrupts live events.

Of the 46 full members of the Society of London Theatre that had shows running, 22 of them scrapped performances.

They included Hamilton, Matilda, Wicked, The Lion King, Cinderella, Cabaret and Come From Away.

Producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh said it was "hugely disruptive" and left industry in a "dreadful state".

He told BBC News: "It's literally day-to-day. We spend all morning trying to work out if we can do the show or not.

"The important thing is, when we do it, it is safe, and the public have been remarkable in that they are, in our experience, turning up mostly to the shows."

Sir Cameron, who has eight productions in the West End, including Hamilton, Les Miserables and Mamma Mia!, said it would be a "terrible blow" if theatres had to shut again either "by the government or by stealth" and urged ministers to step up and help the hospitality and theatre sectors.

Meanwhile, there have been a raft of cancellations elsewhere in the country, with performances of Six and The Book of Mormon called off at the Lowry in Salford and the Palace Theatre in Manchester respectively.

You can read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League clubs have rejected calls for games to be postponed over the Christmas period amid disruption caused by a large increase in Covid-19 cases at top-flight sides.

An emergency meeting of all 20 clubs was called on Monday, following a weekend that saw six out of 10 games called off due to teams being hit by an increase in coronavirus cases.

It had been expected that games in the week starting 28 December would be postponed in order to ease the pressure on Premier League squads.

Instead, clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

Liverpool are believed to be one of the clubs that pushed for games to be called off. The club's manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday that it is has become "impossible" for the Premier League to continue with its current fixture list.

Last week, Premier League players returned 42 positive Covid-19 tests in a seven-day period, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.

Read more about the decision here.

The UK has recorded a further 91,743 new coronavirus cases and another 44 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test, government data shows.

The number of cases is higher than on Sunday - when 82,886 were recorded - but lower than the record 93,045 cases recorded on Friday.

There has been a sharp increase in Covid cases, driven by the new Omicron variant, with some calls for the government to go further than the Plan B measures currently in place.

So far, almost 90% of people aged 12 and over in the UK have had their first vaccine dose, nearly 82% have had their second and 50% have had a booster.

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty has been asking callers to the radio station if they believe new Covid restrictions should be introduced.

Kevin in Worcestershire has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has recently been treated for his third bout of cancer, he says he hasn’t “had a life” since the start of the pandemic because he’s been self-isolating.

“I think it’s selfish people think their lives matter more than mine,” he says.

Neil in Droitwich says “for the sake of our society" he believes is it time for people to exercise personal choice and personal responsibility.

“I’m happy to wear a mask, happy to gel my hands, happy to do anything at all except for I resent having my right to earn a living stripped from me, I resent my children sitting at home not getting educated, not able to build a life,” he says.

Angie in Coventry says the country needs more “team spirit”.

Responding to callers saying vulnerable people should isolate themselves, she asks “are we as a country really so selfish and uncaring?”.

Image source, Getty Images

As children aged 12-15 in England become eligible for a second dose of a Covid vaccine, French health authorities have just approved a first jab for five to 11-year-olds.

France's Haute Autorite de Sante has suggested parents who wish for their young children to get a vaccine can now do so, the Reuters news agency reports.

Last week France started vaccinating children with certain medical conditions, while getting ready to roll out vaccination to all children within the age group once the move was given the green light.

Lise Alter, one of the doctors in charge of risk evaluation of new drugs in France, says: "With the arrival of the Omicron variant, which is more contagious than the Delta variant, we can expect an increase in severe forms in children without pre-existing health conditions."

As we've been reporting, the government is considering whether to tighten Covid rules in England.

Earlier, Deputy PM Dominic Raab said "we will have a much better Christmas than last year because of the vaccination level - both the overall vaccination level but particularly the impact of the booster campaign".

Currently, 48.8% of the UK population over the age of 12 has had a booster or third jab. More than 900,000 boosters were recorded on Saturday.

As this graphic from last week illustrates, the UK's booster programme is above that of most other countries.

(NB - percentages in the chart refer to total population, not just those eligible for a booster).

Imogen Foulkes
BBC News, Geneva

Image source, Reuters

From today, life for the unvaccinated in Switzerland becomes very restricted.

Bars, restaurants, theatres, museums, gyms and sporting events are open only to those who can prove they are vaccinated or that they have recovered.

A negative test is no longer acceptable. Essentials like grocery shops, pharmacists and public transport are still accessible to all, but masks must be worn – and everyone who can must work from home.

An unscheduled cabinet meeting is under way online as ministers continue to discuss any further restrictions for England to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.

The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty are briefing the cabinet.

Downing Street denied it was an emergency meeting, saying ministers are being updated on a fast-changing situation.

But No 10 did not deny reports that a number of ministers - including Chancellor Rishi Sunak - have pushed back against calls for action without more evidence of the impact the virus would have.

The prime minister's official spokesman says it is part of the job of ministers to scrutinise any advice they were given on Omicron.

"We are working to get more clarity on what impact it has on things like severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths," he says.

As we've reported, the cabinet is meeting at the moment.

While we're waiting to hear what the outcome of that is, here are some comments from health bosses who have been warning of the mounting pressure on the NHS.

Patricia Marquis, England director at the Royal College of Nursing, calls on ministers to listen to "whatever the scientific advisers are saying" about the pattern of Omicron's spread and "the effect that it's having on people, their health and the health services" to ease off the pressure on the NHS.

The science needs to guide what comes next to protect the health service from what could be a "real collapse", she tells the BBC.

Meanwhile Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, says pressure on London trusts, including hospitals, community mental health and ambulance trusts, has been "mounting rapidly" in the past week.

"The number of hospitalised Covid patients or patients who tested positive for Covid has gone up by 30% in a week, at a time when nationally it's only gone up by 4%," he tells Times Radio.

Former Brexit minister Lord Frost has confirmed he left the government because he could not support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "coercive policies on Covid".

The peer says he had "huge admiration" for the PM who was "the right man" to lead, despite his resignation on Saturday expressing "concerns about the current direction of travel".

Speaking to reporters on Monday, the former diplomat said he and the prime minister had "never disagreed" on Brexit policy.

But he said he could not support other measures he was taking, "most recently on Covid restrictions and Plan B".

The government has expressed admiration for Lord Frost, but defended its Covid policies as necessary to support public health and businesses.

Read more here.

Jonathan Josephs
BBC business reporter

London’s emergency services say they are maintaining services as normal despite the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan declaring a “major incident” over the weekend as cases of the Omicron variant continue to grow.

Despite the challenges of coronavirus, the Metropolitan Police says they are “continuing to provide a resilient and strong policing service to London.”

Similarly the London Fire Brigade says they have maintained their response time targets of six to eight minutes throughout the pandemic.

As with any other large organisations it’s likely that the services are seeing increased absences because of the spread of the Omicron variant.

On Saturday night, chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson tweeted “London NHS pressure mounting rapidly” and that “Covid linked staff absences up 140% from 1,900 Sunday to 4,700 Thurs. Some trusts now having to postpone non essential activity”.

Hopson says that whilst trusts dealt with their own staffing challenges the pressure was threefold, in the form of “huge pressure in non-Covid care” whilst also expanding the vaccine booster programme and preparing for “potentially large numbers of new omicron hospitalised covid patients”.

Image source, Getty Images

The European Union's drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has approved the use of another Covid vaccine, external for adults.

Made by Novavax, it contains small protein fragments that can teach the body how to fight the pandemic virus. It was designed around the original version of Covid, rather than the new Omicron variant.

Data from two large studies showed the vaccine has an efficacy of around 90%, the EMA said. The EU has already signed a deal to buy up to 200 million doses of the two-shot vaccine. The UK and US are still considering whether to licence its use.

Ministers are considering whether tougher rules are needed in England - and the sharp recent rise in cases, driven by the Omicron variant, is the reason why.

Hospitalisations always lag behind a rise in cases - but there is no sign of a sharp increase yet.

And generally any increase in Covid-related deaths also lags behind increases in cases and hospitalisations - but there is no sign of an increase yet. In fact, deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test are falling slightly in the UK.

BBC Radio 5 Live

As we just reported, the government is considering whether tighter Covid rules are needed in England. One of the options reportedly under consideration is lockdown; another is an 8pm pub and restaurant curfew.

But even without new rules, the hospitality industry is suffering - including Lisa Chee, the owner of Sweet Mandarin and Kimchee Noodle restaurants in Manchester.

"People are afraid to come out," she tells Radio 5 Live's Wake Up to Money podcast.

"I would say a good 30% have cancelled this weekend, which is massive for small businesses."

Last week, chef Tom Kerridge told the BBC one of his restaurants had more than 650 cancellations in a week - and hospitality bosses are now calling for more financial help from the government.

A Treasury spokesperson says: "We recognise how important the festive period is for so many businesses - and the government will continue to engage constructively on how it can best provide ongoing support to the businesses and sectors affected."

Ministers are meeting now, as they consider whether tougher Covid rules are needed in England. They will receive updates on the data and ask officials questions, Downing Street said earlier.

The cabinet is considering three options drawn up by civil servants, the BBC understands.

It's thought the proposals detail coronavirus restrictions which range from low, medium to high.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting these options as:

1. Urging the public to limit social mixing indoors, without legal enforcement
2. Mandating curbs on household mixing, the return of social distancing and forcing pubs and restaurants to close at 20:00 GMT
3. A return to full lockdown

It's not known if any decisions will be made today - or if a Downing Street briefing will be held later - but we will bring you updates as we have them.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says his party will support Boris Johnson if the prime minister introduces new Covid measures.

But he says Johnson needs to outline a plan with "support" for schools and businesses.

He adds there is an "obsession" with Tory party management in Number 10 that he feared was taking priority over public health.

A cabinet meeting is due to take place at 14:00 GMT, where ministers will decide if new restrictions are needed in England.

Image source, Getty Images

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has decided to postpone its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, over the continued uncertainty around the spread of the Omicron variant.

The conference for political and economic leaders from around the world was scheduled to take place at the famous ski resort between 17 and 21 January, but is now planned for early summer, the WEF says.

Instead leaders can join a series of online State of the World sessions focussing on shaping solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

Despite the meeting's stringent health protocols, the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel and mobility made the deferral necessary, it adds.

Read more here.

Image source, PA Media

If you're just joining us on your lunch break, there's a lot to catch up on. So here are the key headlines so far today:

• The government "can't make hard, fast guarantees" that there will not be a Christmas lockdown, Deputy PM Dominic Raab has said
• The cabinet is due to meet at 14:00 GMT to discuss a range of possible measures which range in severity
• Ministers reportedly remain divided over whether to impose tougher restrictions in England
• Meanwhile, scientists have been calling on the government to act faster over Omicron as cases soar, warning of the possible impact on hospitals
• The hospitality industry continues to ask ministers for new support, as pubs and restaurants see swathes of cancellations ahead of Christmas
• A photo of Boris Johnson, his wife and 17 staff members in the Downing Street garden with wine and cheese last year during lockdown shows them having a "work meeting", No 10 says
• A new drug designed to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients needing hospital treatment from Covid will be available on the NHS from today