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The Omicron variant is very transmissible but people should not panic, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan says.

"How worried should we be? We need to be prepared and cautious, not panic, because we're in a different situation to a year ago," Swaminathan tells the Reuters Next conference.

She says the world is much better prepared, given the development of vaccines since the start of the pandemic.

"We need to wait, let’s hope it's milder... but it's too early to conclude about the variant as a whole," she tells the virtual conference, run by Reuters news agency.

She adds it is “possible” Omicron could become the dominant variant, out-competing the Delta variant, which accounts for 99% of infections around the world, “but it’s not possible to predict”.

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After Germany announced it would ban unvaccinated people from bars, leisure venues and many non-essential shops - and could impose a vaccine mandate - Downing Street is asked if the UK might follow suit.

"We've set out our policy on this and we've said it's not something that we would look to introduce," the prime minister's spokesman says.

He says there are "no plans above and beyond" those set out for mandatory vaccination of health and social care workers.

Asked if there could be separate lockdown-style restrictions for unvaccinated people, No 10 says: "I think you can look back at the restrictions we've had previously and the fact that we've never introduced something along those lines.

"Our priority is to continue to promote vaccinations and promote boosters now that we are rolling out more and more boosters to more and more people."

Damien McGuinness
BBC News, Berlin

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Meanwhile in Germany, life will get pretty difficult now for people who haven't had the vaccine because they're essentially excluded from most leisure and cultural activities - even going to the workplace.

They're generally going to have to get a daily test, so life will become quite uncomfortable.

On the one hand, it's being done to limit the spread of coronavirus, because we're seeing record high daily infection rates.

The death rate isn't as high as it was at the height of the pandemic because of the vaccines, so it does mean that that is having an effect.

But still, the infection rate is very high indeed. So the idea is to limit the number of infections, but also to encourage more people to get the vaccine.

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Increasing numbers of people in Britain believe that life will never return to normal because of Covid-19.

The finding came in another survey by the Office for National Statistics about the social impacts of the virus, external - and we reported earlier on results which showed about four in 10 adults had taken a lateral flow test in the last week.

About one in six people now believes the nation will not get back to normal - the highest proportion since the pandemic began.

That number has surged in recent weeks amid concern about the Omicron variant, up from one in nine last month and one in 10 during the summer.

But the results suggest pessimism about the future has grown despite the effectiveness of the vaccine rollout. In late December and early January, when few people were vaccinated and the second wave was reaching its peak, only 3% of people thought life would never get back to normal.

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Earlier this week, we reported how face coverings have become compulsory again on public transport and shops in England, in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Since then, more than 100 people have been fined up to £200 for not wearing face coverings on London's transport network.

Transport for London says it issued fines to 152 people on Tuesday, the day the mask rule returned, and 125 maskless people were asked to leave its services.

In England, police and TfL officers can fine people who are not wearing a mask on public transport, in a transport hub or in a shop £200 for their first offence. This drops to £100 if the fine is paid within 14 days.

Under-12s are exempt from wearing masks, as are those who can't wear face coverings for medical reasons, external.

Face coverings were already mandatory on public transport and in many indoor areas in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Read more

Some more from the ONS survey now.

It suggests coronavirus infections across the UK are beginning to rise in primary school age children - up to 4.2%, or about one in 25 children, had Covid in the week ending 27 November.

This is up from 3.7% last week.

Those aged between 35 and 49 have also seen a slight increase in infection, from 1.6% last week to 1.8% this week.

Cases in secondary school age children remain stable at 3.5%, or around one in 30 - the same as last week and below the high levels of infection seen before half-term.

James Gallagher
Health and science correspondent, BBC News

The old rules of Covid meant a rise in cases would lead to an inevitable rise in the numbers needing hospital care as surely as night follows day.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics along with the daily data from the government tells us cases are continuing to climb in the UK.

However, those being admitted to hospital with Covid has fallen throughout November.

This "grand decoupling" of cases and hospitalisations is down to the booster vaccines protecting more of the most vulnerable people.

But that positive news was all with the Delta variant.

The most important question now is what will Omicron do? If it can partially evade immunity then there is the potential for the pressure on hospitals to intensify once again.

Estimates from the ONS survey suggest that just over one million (1,087,000) people in the UK would test positive for coronavirus in the week ending 27 November.

This is up slightly from 1,035,000 last week.

This is 1.7% of the population – or one in 60 people in the latest week.

The ONS say the trends for estimated Covid-19 infections continued to increase in Northern Ireland and Scotland, increased in England and was uncertain in Wales.

In England, one in 60 are estimated to be testing positive for coronavirus, it's one in 45 in Wales, one in 45 in Northern Ireland and one in 65 in Scotland.

If you're just joining us, here's a round-up of the main coronavirus news so far:

• Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) say the number of countries reporting the detection of the new Omicron variant are “increasing daily”, and its distribution is “likely already wider than currently reported”
• They say all countries must prepare for potential new surges connected to Omicron, but that lessons learned from the spread and handling of the Delta variant still apply
• Health experts in South Africa - where Omicron was first identified - say they are ready to respond to a fourth Covid wave - as the new variant presents with a higher transmissibility rate than previous infections
• A UK trial finds the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines give the best overall booster response
• The risk of catching and becoming very sick from Covid remains higher for people belonging to certain ethnic groups, a UK review finds
• The Conservative Party chairman says he has no plans to cancel a staff Christmas party over concerns about the latest Covid variant
• President Biden has announced plans to step up coronavirus testing in the US and tighten rules for travellers amid a series of Omicron cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued further advice after saying that all countries should prepare for potential new Covid surges as Omicron spreads.

It says that the makers of vaccines should gear up for the "likelihood" of needing to adjust their products to protect against the new variant.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said at a UN briefing in Geneva that officials are still studying the transmissibility and severity of the new variant, first reported in southern Africa.

"It is very recommendable that vaccine manufacturers already start planning ahead and plan for the likelihood of having to adjust the existing vaccine," he is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

"That's good not just to wait until the final alarm bell rings."

He also said he had not seen reports of Omicron-related deaths yet.

As we've been reporting, there is growing concern about the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, and still many questions to answer.

Yesterday, BBC World News’ Yalda Hakim put questions from viewers to Dr Rupali Limaye from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr Peter Drobac, global health expert at the University of Oxford.

They looked at issues including how long symptoms last for, advice for those who are immunosuppressed and whether Omicron is more harmful to children than other variants.

Image source, ZAKARY WALTERS

Speaking of festive parties, Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John are revealing their Christmas song later - and it contains a nod to a painful year.

Merry Christmas is a bittersweet track that celebrates the season with the usual sleigh bells, ding-dongs and choirs, while also remembering "the ones who have gone".

Here's the lowdown on the song - and its rivals for the coveted Christmas number one slot.

Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

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We touched on Christmas earlier - and with the new highly mutated variant Omicron emerging, people are understandably wondering how best to approach the festive season.

Many people are now vaccinated, but UK Covid cases are high and still rising. So is an office party or after-work drinks really worth the risk right now?

A big factor to consider, alongside how many of the people you plan to mingle with are jabbed, is how enclosed and poorly ventilated the venue is.

Drinking outside at the pub - in your big coat rather than beer jacket at this time of year - is much less risky than socialising at the bar.

Fresh air can disperse the virus, which helps prevent aerosol transmission - when someone catches Covid from tiny droplets breathed or sneezed out by another person nearby.

Infectious droplets can hover in the air for hours in a stuffy room.

Popping on a face covering and keeping 2m apart may help cut transmission, but not partying.

Read more.

Tim Vizard
Consultant statistician, BBC News

New data from the Office for National Statistics, external, collected between 18 to 28 November, has found that about four in 10 adults (37%) said they had taken a lateral flow test in the last seven days.

The survey, based on self-reported information from about 3,000 adults in Britain, also found that when asked about how often they report results of a lateral flow test to the NHS:

• 31% of all adults said they always report the result
• 25% said they sometimes report the result and
• almost a quarter (24%) never reported the result.

The survey also found around one in five adults (20%) said they had never taken a lateral flow test.

One of the main UK stories today focuses on new research that suggests the risk of catching coronavirus and becoming very sick remains higher among black and South Asian people, and those in cities with high levels of deprivation.

The government-commissioned review shows that while age and underlying health conditions are the biggest risk factors, others include working in occupations such as healthcare and taxi driving, and living in multigenerational households or high-population areas with poor air-quality.

Report author Dr Raghib Ali, the government's independent adviser on Covid and ethnicity, says the biggest risk, linked to ethnicity, is vaccine status.

Many of the sickest patients in intensive care have been unvaccinated, he says. Uptake of the vaccine has been higher among white people, overall.

Image source, AFP

As we mentioned earlier, Germany is introducing new rules for the unvaccinated as a fourth wave of cases takes hold.

Only those who have been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid will be allowed in restaurants, cinemas, leisure facilities and many shops.

Vaccinations could be made mandatory by February, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Germany's fourth wave of Covid is its most severe so far, with another 388 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

Read more here.

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The US is one of the latest countries to have found a handful of Omicron cases, leading to President Joe Biden announcing stricter travel rules.

From next week, international travellers to the US, including Americans, must take a Covid test no more than one day before travel, external, regardless of their vaccination status.

Those recently recovered may provide "proof of recovery" documents instead.

Mask requirements on planes, trains and buses will be extended until mid-March.

Millions of free and insurer-funded home tests will also be made available.

Ten cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York, as well as in Hawaii, where authorities say that the person had no recent travel history.

Read more here.

Pumza Fihlani
BBC News, Johannesburg

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South Africa’s health experts say they are ready to respond to a fourth Covid wave - as the Omicron variant presents with a higher transmissibility rate than previous infections.

Early data from the Gauteng province - which has the highest number of coronavirus infections in the country - show that there is a higher number of admissions in children under the age of five than in previous waves.

Scientists have said they will try and determine why this is the case.

In the last week, hospital admissions have steadily increased but are still well below hospital capacity.

Epidemiologists here say it is still too early to determine if the variant will cause severe disease. They say this will become clearer in the few weeks as the surge reaches its peak and more cases present in hospitals.

At this stage most people who have tested positive have reported mild symptoms.

Meanwhile, the government says it now has enough oxygen supplies for hospitals. Severe oxygen shortages were reported in the last wave and it is a crisis it is keen to avoid.

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Rules are being tightened up around the world in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. But what are the symptoms of the new variant?

There is some suggestion that the variant could be causing some slightly different symptoms to the Delta variant - including aches and pains, and no loss of taste or smell - but it's too early to say for certain.

At the moment, the World Health Organization says there is no evidence that symptoms of Omicron are different to those of other variants.

That means a new cough, a fever and loss of taste or smell are still the main three symptoms to look out for.

Hospitals in South Africa are seeing more young people admitted with more serious symptoms - but many are unvaccinated or have had only one dose.

Read more here.

Two thousand students and staff at a Swiss international school at Founex near Geneva have gone into quarantine after the discovery of two Omicron variant cases. The cases are linked to a family who recently returned from South Africa. There’s been a surge in Swiss hospital cases.

French health authorities say they’ve recorded nine cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 so far. Experts believe the variant will gradually become the most prevalent variant there by early next year.

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Health Minister Olivier Véran says France's fifth Covid wave is spreading fast and having a big impact on hospitals.

Belgium’s Covid decision-makers will consider a recommendation to shut schools for 10 days today along with a limit of 200 spectators for indoor events. Advisers are particularly worried about the spread of Covid in primary schools. They’re also suggesting 20:00 closures for cafes and restaurants and making professional sport closed-door events.

Germany’s Covid surge continues, with the number of cases per 100,000 people up again to 442, after a dip in recent days. New rules now bar unvaccinated people from cultural and leisure facilities and non-essential shops.

Infections and hospital admissions are on the rise in Italy. Vaccinations will start for 5-11 year-olds, after the EU’s medicines agency gave the green light.