Summary

  • Health Secretary Sajid Javid is giving an update on Covid to MPs in the Commons

  • Javid says that while initial cases of Omicron were linked to international travel, the variant is now spreading in "multiple regions of England"

  • He says there appears to be a shorter period with the new variant between being infected and becoming infectious

  • Omicron could become the UK's dominant variant within weeks, says infectious diseases expert Prof Paul Hunter

  • He estimates it's likely that there are already more than than 1,000 cases - three times more than the 336 confirmed on Monday

  • Travellers say their Christmas plans are "up in the air" as the UK brings in extra pre-departure tests for arrivals from Tuesday

  • Nigeria criticises the UK's decision to add it to the red list - describing the restrictions on African countries as "travel apartheid"

  • South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions amid a fourth wave driven by the new variant, its president says

  • The UK announces another 51,459 coronavirus cases and a further 41 people have died

Live Reporting

Edited by Francesca Gillett

  1. Good morning

    Welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. We'll be bringing you updates from the UK and around the world throughout the day.

    Here are some of the top stories we are covering first thing this morning:

    • Prof Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases, tells the BBC that Omicron could become the UK's dominant variant within weeks
    • Future pandemics could be more lethal than the current Covid crisis, Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, one of thecreators of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has warned
    • People can now show evidence of a negative Covid test to get into clubs, concerts or large events in Scotland. Previously, it was just proof of vaccination
    • The return of pre-departure Covid tests for travellers to the UK will come into force on Tuesday
    • Former health secretary Matt Hancock said breaking social distancing guidance, which led to his resignation, was "a failure of leadership"
    • South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions amid a fourth wave driven by the Omicron variant, President Cyril Ramaphosa says