Britain reported more than 100,000 new daily Covid-19 cases for the first time since widespread testing was introduced, with 106,122 on Wednesday compared with 90,629 on Tuesday.
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has driven a surge in cases in the last seven days, with the total rising by 643,219, or 59 percent, according to government data.
People seen walking in London, United Kingdom on 16 December 2021. Photo: AFP
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday ruled out new restrictions before Christmas, saying that there was uncertainty about the severity of Omicron and hospitalisation rates.
However, he did not rule out further measures after the holiday if the situation deteriorated.
There were 195 patients hospitalised with Omicron up to Tuesday and 18 deaths of people with the variant, according to separate data.
Israel to offer fourth vaccine dose
Israel is to offer a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to people older than 60 or with compromised immune systems, and to health workers, as part of a drive to ramp up the shots and outpace the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
A Health Ministry expert panel - whose findings have yet to be implemented - recommended on Tuesday that those eligible should receive the fourth shot at least four months after receiving their third.
"We are seeing a waning of protection against Omicron infection. This wave is growing in surprisingly high numbers," Arnon Shahar, a doctor on the expert panel, told Israel's Army Radio.
The government moved quickly against Omicron, barring foreigners from entering Israel on 25 November and expanding a list of high-risk countries to which its citizens should not travel to include the United States this week.
The Health Ministry said there were at least 340 known cases of Omicron in Israel as of Tuesday.
Northern Ireland to shut nightclubs
Northern Ireland ordered the closure of nightclubs from Sunday after reporting an all-time high of 3231 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, up from an average of just over 2000 in the previous seven days due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The devolved government of the British region also ordered an end to ordering at bars and limited restaurants to serve no more than six people per table.
Several members of the devolved administration have said they are limited in what they can do due to funding constraints from London.
A total of 2958 people have died in the region, which has a population of 1.9 million, since the start of the pandemic, data showed after three additional deaths were reported on Wednesday.
France reports near-record 84,272 new cases
France on Wednesday reported 84,272 new Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours, coming close to its all-time high of almost 87,000 cases in November 2020.
France's health minister earlier on Wednesday said over 100,000 new infections could be reached by the end of this month.
France has cancelled its order for Merck & Co's Covid-19 antiviral drug following disappointing trial data and hopes instead to receive Pfizer's competing drug before the end of January, the health minister said on Wednesday.
Belgium to shut cinemas
Belgium will close cinemas and theatres and play sporting fixtures behind closed doors immediately after Christmas in a tightening of coronavirus restrictions to curb a surge in cases of the Omicron variant.
Omicron now makes up 30 percent of new cases compared with only 10 percent last Friday, he said, and new measures were required to ensure pupils could return from holiday to schools from on 10 January.
From Sunday, no indoor activities will be allowed except for museum visits, exercise, weddings or funerals, a two-person limit will be set for shopping. Soccer matches and other sports events must be played without spectators.
Belgium, home to EU institutions and the headquarters of Nato, will still allow bars and restaurants to remain open until 11pm.
Portugal braces for record cases as Omicron spreads
Portugal's health minister on Wednesday predicted the Omicron variant would trigger a record number of infections in the coming days as authorities reported nearly 9000 new cases, the highest since early February and up from 5754 the previous day.
Although the country has one of the world's highest rates of Covid-19 vaccination with about 87 percent of its 10 million population fully inoculated, daily infections have returned to levels last seen when Portugal faced its worst wave of the illness in the first two months of the year.
There are 909 people with Covid-19 in hospital compared to a peak of 6869 patients on 1 February.
The 14-day infection rate has more than doubled in the last month to reach 579 per 100,000 people on Wednesday, official data showed. About half of the new coronavirus cases in Portugal are from the Omicron variant.
To limit the spread in the run-up to the holiday season, the government announced new curbs on Tuesday, ordering nightclubs and bars to shut and telling people to work from home for at least two weeks starting on Christmas Day.
US case spike derails many Americans' holiday plans
Americans are facing a second Christmas of upended holiday plans, with a surge in Covid-19 infections fueled by the now-dominant Omicron variant forcing some people to cancel travel and fret about whether it is safe to visit loved ones.
In the last seven days, the average number of US cases has risen 26 percent and cases are up 83 percent since the start of the month, according to a Reuters tally.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday reiterated his administration's pledge to assist US states in battling the wave of cases after outlining specific steps on Tuesday, such as providing stockpiled resources and mobilising 1000 troops to aid with healthcare.
In his remarks on Tuesday, he said vaccinated people should follow precautions but feel comfortable celebrating the holidays with family and travelling as planned, despite the Omicron wave.
- Reuters