UK

The UK will have more than one million Omicron cases by the end of this month if current trends continue unchanged – but booster jabs provide 70-75% protection against symptomatic infection, says the Health Security Agency. The UKHSA said in a statement: “It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed

The UK has recorded 448 new Omicron cases in the latest 24-hour period – taking the total across the country to 1,265. It comes after 249 new infections of the COVID-19 variant were reported on Thursday. The latest figures released by the UK Health Security Agency show 443 cases have been recorded in England, one

Further measures to control the spread of the Omicron variant come into force in England today – while people in Scotland are urged to defer Christmas parties in response to the variant. The legal requirement to wear masks has been extended in England to cover more indoor spaces including cinemas, theatres, churches, museums, galleries and

The new Omicron variant of coronavirus appears to be causing “milder” cold-like symptoms, but its reported rapid infection rate “even in the vaccinated” could still have “devastating” consequences, a top scientist has warned. Early data has suggested the new variant could result in less severe disease than previous waves. However, Tim Spector, lead scientist on

Boris Johnson has warned the Omicron COVID variant is “growing much faster” than Delta and its doubling rate could be between two and three days. Speaking during a Downing Street news conference, where he also announced the introduction of Plan B restrictions in England, the Prime Minister said Omicron’s “severity, its exact rate of transmission

‘Plan B’ COVID restrictions could be brought in across England as soon as this week to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant. In September the government set out its plan for tackling coronavirus over the winter period, with a set of ‘Plan B’ measures to prevent the NHS “coming under unsustainable pressure”. Professor

Storm Barra is not quite done with the UK yet – more ice, wind, and rain are on the way, with flooding expected in some parts. Dozens of flood warnings have been issued across the UK, even as communities in the North East and Scotland are still recovering from the last storm – Arwen, which

People arriving in the UK from overseas now have to take a COVID-19 test before they travel, under new rules designed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The changes, which came into effect at 4am on Tuesday, will mean: • Anyone travelling from countries that are not on the red list must take

Storm Barra is barrelling into Ireland and due to hit the UK later this morning, with the weather system packing strong winds, heavy rain and snow, with the Met Office warning of a small chance of a “danger to life” in some parts due to the conditions. Parts of west and southern Ireland are on

Two police officers who took and shared photos on WhatsApp of the bodies of two murdered sisters have been jailed. PC Deniz Jaffer and PC Jamie Lewis had previously admitted sharing images of the bodies of Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27 and were found guilty of gross misconduct at a tribunal last month.

The grandfather of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes has said that the couple behind his death “must never see the light of day again”. Arthur, a six-year-old from Solihull, West Midlands, was poisoned, starved and beaten by his father’s girlfriend Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, in a prolonged campaign of “evil abuse”. Tustin was

A further 86 cases of the new Omicron COVID variant have been reported in the UK, taking the total to 246. This compares with a total of 160 yesterday – an increase of more than 50%. The UK Health Security Agency, which publishes the figures, says 18 of the cases are in Scotland, taking its

The NHS is planning to roll out a “game-changing” anti-viral pill that people who have tested positive for coronavirus can take at home. Molnupiravir, sometimes known as Lagevrio, could be offered to the most vulnerable patients by Christmas, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Health Secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly preparing to announce the start of

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes should have been a top priority for social services but was “missed” during the coronavirus lockdown, a child protection boss has said. The six-year-old from Solihull was poisoned, starved and beaten by step-mother Emma Tustin, 32, and his father Thomas Hughes, 29, in a prolonged campaign of “evil abuse”. He was left with

The father of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and his girlfriend have been jailed for the six-year-old’s killing. Emma Tustin, 32, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 29 years at Coventry Crown Court on Friday after she was found guilty of murdering the boy, who had been subjected to a campaign of “evil” abuse. Her partner

France has rejected the idea of a joint British-French patrol in the English Channel to deal with the rising number of migrant crossing – but said Paris officials are “ready to pursue our operational cooperation” with the UK. Writing to Boris Johnson, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told his British counterpart that his country “cannot

Around 500 leaseholders from across the UK have told Sky News about the extreme mental health impact and financial toll of having to live in an unsafe building.  Our research has exposed the devastating consequences the national building safety crisis is having on flat owners who can’t afford to fix the problems with their homes.

A family of four is gearing up for a second Christmas shielding at home after the father was told he had a brain tumour. Greg Priddy was diagnosed with cancer at the end of November last year, after his strange behaviour and sudden weakness on his left side prompted his wife to make him seek

Some Omicron cases are reportedly experiencing “mild” symptoms and experts should have more information about the transmission of the new COVID variant within days, an epidemiologist at the World Health Organisation has said. Speaking at a news conference, Maria van Kerkhove said one of the possible scenarios is that Omicron may become more transmissible than

A father has been found guilty of the manslaughter of his six-year-old son Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and his partner guilty of murder after they subjected the boy to months of physical and psychological abuse. Thomas Hughes, 29, and Emma Tustin, 32, were jointly accused over the child’s death, but the little boy was in the sole