Theo Leggett
BBC International Business Correspondent

Investors are clearly shaken.

The introduction of travel restrictions to contain the new variant has come at a time when the number of Covid cases is Europe is already climbing rapidly and winter is approaching.

Inevitably, shares in airlines, tourism operators and hotel groups have been badly hit.

British Airways' parent, International Airlines Group, closed down 15%, while the aircraft engine maker Rolls Royce was down 12%.

But analysts said investors were also fearful that the new variant could potentially lead to more widespread restrictions on daily life and affect global trade.

Shares in banks, fuel suppliers and mining groups also fell sharply, while the price of oil dropped by more than $9 a barrel to levels last seen in mid September.

A steep fall in the oil price is often seen as a signal that investors are concerned about a possible slowdown in economic activity.

Bars, restaurants and most shops in the Netherlands must close from 17:00 to 05:00 from Sunday, Dutch Prime Minster Mark Rutte has announced

The move comes as part of new measures to prevent the country's current record Covid-19 infection rates from overwhelming hospitals and the health service, the Reuters news agency reports.

The fresh measures also include wearing masks in secondary schools.

The current three-week partial lockdown requires all bars and restaurants must close at 20:00, as well as banning crowds at sport events.

However, even these measures were greeted by significant opposition - with protests and violence breaking out in several cities last week.

Image source, Getty Images

Former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock says we should not be panicking about the new variant identified in South Africa but it is "right" the government has brought in the travel ban.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, he says the new variant has come as a "surprise" as there hasn't been a mutation for many months now, but accepts there's "always a risk" of that happening and ministers are right to be "cautious" on travel.

Hancock was the health secretary during the height of the pandemic but resigned in June this year after coming under pressure for breaching social distancing guidelines by kissing a colleague.

He was in post when the Delta variant was first detected in India late last year and the government faced criticism over not closing down flights to affected countries quickly enough.

Asked if he thought the government had learnt lessons from this situation, Hancock insists ministers move "as fast as you think you can and is appropriate", citing the government's swift decision to bring in travel restrictions after a new Covid variant emerged in Denmark last November.

On Delta, he says "the signals weren't as strong so the arguments were more balanced", and more was learnt about this variant over time.

Hancock insists the nation is "not yet" in a position where tougher Plan B restrictions - such as mandatory mask wearing - is needed due to "how little" is known about the new variant and no detected cases of it in Britain.

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

A “variant of concern” is the World Health Organization’s top category of worrying Covid variants.

The decision adds weight to the mounting scientific worry about the potential of this new variant, but it doesn’t change any of the facts.

The variant has an astounding collection of mutations which are thought to increase its ability to spread and bypass some, but not all, of the protection from vaccines.

However, we still don’t have the clear real-world data.

We don’t know for sure that it spreads faster, makes vaccines or drugs less effective or whether it leads to more severe disease.

The WHO have also given it a name and ended days of speculation that we would end up in the slightly ridiculous position of calling the new variant the “Nu variant”.

There have even been arguments about the correct pronunciation of the Greek letter Nu (it’s technically a “Nee”).

Instead, you can guarantee we’ll be talking a lot about Omicron in the weeks to come.

More now on the World Health Organization's announcement that the new Covid strain is a "variant of concern".

In a statement, the WHO says that the variant "has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning".

Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other variants, it says.

The WHO has renamed the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain Omicron.

The variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on Wednesday. It has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

The WHO says it will take a few weeks to understand the impact of the new variant.

Caroline Davies
Transport correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Many Brits are rushing home after a new Covid variant circulating in South Africa prompted new UK travel restrictions.

Cathy Hogarth was flying from Cape Town via Amsterdam to Manchester. She was on one of two flights that were stopped at Schiphol Airport from South Africa.

“It’s been mayhem," she told the BBC earlier.

"There’s no social distancing… there’s well over 1,000 people here. People are worried as they are running out of phone charge, children are crying, it’s not been a good experience and people just want to get home to their families."

Cathy says that she and other passengers were kept on the plane for four hours before disembarking to be taken for PCR tests. They were told that the catering company were not allowed to approach the plane because of health and safety concerns and so they were only offered a chocolate brownie.

"I feel tired and really frustrated. I want to get home to my family now. It’s just been very badly organised, not KLM (the airline), but the Dutch authorities. I don’t understand why they don’t have a contingency in place when they know things like this are going on.

"We don’t know what happens to our luggage. We’ve heard rumours that we might need to stay in Amsterdam overnight, but we’ve had no official communication at all. Dutch authorities have really let everyone down here today."

Schiphol Airport tweeted that everything was, external "done carefully and that's why it took some time". They said passengers were given food and drink.

The World Health Organization says that preliminary evidence suggests that a new Covid variant carries a higher risk of reinfection than other variants.

The variant, currently known as B.1.1.529, has been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

It has designated it a variant of concern and given it the name: Omicron.

Following talks, EU member states have agreed to bring in rapid travel restrictions on all travel into the EU from seven countries in southern Africa after the emergence of a new variant in the region.

In a tweet,, external the EU Commission President's chief spokesman Eric Mamer says the countries subject to the travel ban are:

• Botswana
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

He adds that Covid tests, quarantine and contact tracing for incoming passengers are important.

Around £72bn has been wiped off the value of London's top shares in a stock market fall sparked by the new Covid variant in southern Africa.

The FTSE 100 slipped by 3.6% on Friday, marking its heftiest points fall since the early days of the pandemic in March 2020.

Meanwhile the FTSE 250, which includes smaller companies, dropped 3.2% - wiping a further £13.5bn off the London stock exchange.

The variant, currently known as B.1.1.529, has been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

The World Health Organization has said it will take a few weeks to understand the impact of the new variant, as experts work to determine how transmissible it is.

Image source, Getty Images

The leadership of some of the countries that are imposing travel restrictions on southern Africa are finding “scapegoats”, the South Africa health minister has said.

It was “ironic” that some of the countries restricting South African travel have more Covid cases than South Africa itself, Joe Phaahla said in a press conference.

He also described their measures as "draconian".

So far the UK, Israel, Japan, Germany, Italy and others have imposed travel curbs following the emergence of a new variant.

Joe Phaahla said it is not “inconceivable” that the variant arose in a country that has been even more liberal than South Africa in terms of restrictions.

He cautioned countries against a “witch hunt” and a “blaming game” which he said would not benefit anybody.

Rhoda Odhiambo
BBC health reporter, Nairobi

Image source, Reuters

Travellers to Kenya from southern African nations must show proof of a negative PCR test in advance, then quarantine on arrival and undergo regular testing thereafter, the country's health ministry has announced.

It follows confirmed cases of a new coronavirus variant, known as B.1.1.529, in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.

Kenya has not announced immediate plans to ban flights from South Africa. Its national carrier Kenya Airways currently operates two flights daily to Johannesburg and three to Cape Town.

The country’s Director General of Health Patrick Amoth says that although passenger traffic may not be significant from Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, enhanced surveillance protocols will be introduced.

Image source, Getty Images

England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty says his "greatest worry" is whether the public will accept fresh restrictions if they are required in the face of a new Covid variant.

Speaking at a Local Government Association panel discussion, Whitty says he worries whether the government can still "take people with us".

He admits that some lockdown measures have been "very destructive" to society and the economy.

But he believes the government will be able to maintain public support for new measures if necessary.

"I think the extraordinary thing has been the ability of the UK population, with very, very small exceptions, to just accept that there are things we collectively have to do to protect one another," he says.

"Obviously, we want to avoid having to do those at all if we can, and to do the minimum ones necessary, but will we be able to maintain public support?

"My overall view is, I think we will."

More here.

Hazel Shearing
BBC education correspondent

Secondary schools in England should prepare to test pupils for coronavirus when they return from the Christmas holidays, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.

In an email sent to schools this afternoon, schools were asked to order enough tests by Tuesday.

The DfE says it understands testing will be a "significant additional ask" but it will "help reduce transmission after a period of social mixing over the school holidays".

Julie McCulloch, of the Association of School and College Leaders, says it is "not reasonable" to expect schools to staff and set up testing stations.

She criticises the "short timeframe" for ordering tests and says the government has chosen to "impose this considerable public health task on schools with minimal support".

Image source, Getty Images

Police officers and journalists have come under attack during protests against coronavirus restrictions on the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin says several officers have been injured and that 10 people have been arrested.

"In Guadeloupe and Martinique, our security forces as well as journalists have been the target of attacks and have been fired upon," he says. "Several members of the police forces have been injured."

Image source, Reuters

The violence began amid demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions imposed in the French overseas territories. Earlier this week there were reports that gunshots had been fired at officers in the capital of Martinique, Fort-De-France.

On Thursday, the authorities in Martinique ordered a night time curfew that will remain in place until order has been restored.

The protests began last week in Guadeloupe.

Image source, Reuters

While much of the debate around the new variant has been shrouded in fear, not all scientists feel that is warranted.

Public health specialist Prof Devi Sridhar has urged people not to be "stressed out" by the new variant.

She tweets, external that we're still waiting on more information, adding: "I don't think anyone can say whether further restrictions are ahead. This largely depends on hospitalisation rates and how the health service is managing."

Meanwhile, Prof Jonathan Ball, Director of the Centre for Global Virus Research at the University of Nottingham, says we don't fully understand which benefits - if any - are afforded to the virus by these mutations.

"That's why it's important to be cautious, to keep an eye on it, but we shouldn't overreact," he tells the BBC.

• What do we know about the new variant?

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa's health minister has condemned the travel restrictions being imposed against the country after the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.

Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Joe Phaahla says the introduction of travel restrictions by a number of countries against southern African nations are "completely against the norms and standards" set out by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We want to reassure South Africans that some of the reaction has been unjustified,” Phaahla says.

He adds that foreign scientists have not presented any evidence that the new variant has the capacity to evade protection offered by vaccines, though he accepts that early signs suggest it is more transmissible.

He calls on South Africans to come forward and receive the jab, which he says remains a "major bulwark" against infection and severe illness.

Will there be a vaccine for the new variant?published at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2021

16:35 GMT 26 November 2021

We're on to the final question now.

BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher says that a joy of the new vaccines is that they are very easy to switch out.

There hasn’t been talk about switching to a new type of vaccine yet, but theoretically the technology is easy to adapt if that decision was taken on a global level, he says.

If it becomes a major variant of concern and there is a need to make a major switch because there wasn't enough vaccine effectiveness, that is something technology is able to do quite quickly, he says.

"We are trying to get our heads around all of the detail because it has been happening very quickly, but we’re hoping it doesn’t turn out to be a new Delta," James adds.

And with that, the session is over. Thanks to all those who put forward questions.

Is there any data on the efficacy of vaccines against the new variant?published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2021

16:32 GMT 26 November 2021

Pedro asks...

James is answering some quickfire questions.

In relation to Pedro's question about vaccine efficacy against the new variant, James says we don't yet have the data on this - and it's hypothetical based on what you see when you look at the virus' genetic code.

Meanwhile, Kay asks: Have there been any deaths from the new variant?

There have been no reported deaths in relation to the new variant, James says.

But he urges caution on this, saying scientists have only been studying this new variant over the past week or so. He explains that it takes a long time for a positive case of Covid to translate into a hospital admission and sadly a death - so it will be something we have to watch over the coming weeks.

Are we heading back into lockdowns?published at 16:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2021

16:30 GMT 26 November 2021

Many viewers ask....

BBC health correspondent James Gallagher says this is a really difficult question to answer, given many European countries are currently imposing new restrictions even before the emergence of the new variant.

He adds the UK currently doesn't look anywhere near imposing a new lockdown, or even imposing the government's winter 'Plan B' of some fresh restrictions to stamp down on infections.

James adds we need to look in quite close detail about the impact of this variant before we can make any decisions.

However, he reassures us we are not going back to where we were in early 2020, as even if the vaccine proves less good at preventing severe illness and death - it will be still be better than the 0% efficacy of having no vaccine altogether.

Are there going to be new restrictions?published at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2021

16:27 GMT 26 November 2021

Rene asks...

Caroline Davies, BBC News business correspondent, answers a question about the new restrictions on travellers from southern Africa.

In the UK there are bans on direct flights from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Anyone who is a UK citizen can currently come into the country if they have been in one of these countries in 10 days. But they will have to self isolate and take two PCR tests.

Anyone arriving from these countries after 04:00 GMT on Sunday will have to go into a quarantine hotel.

The government is planning on reviewing this in three weeks time.