(Bloomberg) — The U.K. government is considering a two-week ban on people in England gathering indoors to slow the spread of the omicron variant, The Times newspaper reported.
The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in London started to rise as new cases in the U.K. reached an all-time high for a third day. Meanwhile, the Dutch government is preparing to announce further steps later on Saturday to stem surging omicron infections.
China urged residents of higher-risk areas not to travel unless necessary ahead of new year and spring festival holidays. New York state reported a one-day record of more than 21,000 infections as the spread of the omicron variant accelerates across the U.S.
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Netherlands Prepare Further Curbs (6:26 a.m. NY)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to announce new steps to curb the spread of infections this evening.
The fresh curbs come after the government’s advisory team urged it to move to full lockdown as soon as is possible.
The omicron variant already represents 25% of new infections in Amsterdam, compared with 12% at the start of the week, virologist Menno de Jong told the TV show EenVandaag .
Moderna Omicron Shot Still in Test Phase (6:22 a.m. NY)
Moderna Inc.’s Europe Chief Dan Staner told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that its vaccine adapted to the omicron variant is still in the laboratory testing phase and no decision has been made yet on producing it.
While it takes less than three months to produce an updated shot for omicron, the timing will depend on what information regulators require to grant approvals. “The only quick solution to counter omicron today is the third dose,” Staner told the newspaper.
Ryanair CEO Calls for Anti-Vaxxer Ban (6:04 p.m. HK)
Ryanair Holdings Plc’s Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary thinks only vaccinated passengers should be allowed to fly, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper said that the European airline chief pushed back against compulsory vaccine programs being rolled out in Austria and Germany in an interview. Instead, he thinks governments should “make life difficult” for people who refuse to take the vaccine without good reason.
U.K. Mulls Curbs on Indoor Meetings (5:59 p.m. HK)
The government is considering a fortnight-long ban on people in England gathering indoors after Christmas to slow omicron variant infections, the Times reported, citing people it didn’t identify.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hasn’t approved the plan, and advisers are waiting for more data about the new strain, the newspaper said. Johnson wants to review the impact of measures imposed over the past week, and may see no need to tighten rules further.
Japan to Decide on Border Curbs in New Year (4:22 p.m. HK)
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government will wait until after the New Year holiday season to determine whether to extend border control measures it put in place amid concerns over the omicron Covid-19 variant, Kyodo reported.
The government wants to see the trend of omicron infections during the holiday period before deciding whether to prolong the measures, Kishida told reporters, according to Kyodo. The measures were initially implemented at the end of November for a one-month period.
Germany Records Fewer New Daily Infections (1 p.m. HK)
Germany reported a total of 42,813 new cases, compared with 50,968 the day before, according to the country’s public health authority RKI. New deaths associated with the virus rose by 414, bringing the total to 108,053. The 7-day incidence rate dropped to 321.8 per 100,000 people
China’s Local Cases Rise to Highest This Month (10 a.m. HK)
China reported 125 new coronavirus cases for Friday, of which 89 are local, according to the National Health Commission. That’s the biggest daily tally for local infections since Nov. 30 when the country had 91 domestic cases, all in Inner Mongolia. The nation is facing heightened pressure as it seeks to stamp out recent flareups of the delta variant, while having detected its first omicron cases, putting its Covid Zero approach to the test.
China urged residents of higher-risk Covid areas not to travel unless necessary as the country goes into new year and spring festival holidays.
Cases Jump in Most Populous Australian State (9:34 a.m. HK)
Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales reported a record 2,482 Covid-19 cases Saturday, a day after easing international arrival rules for vaccinated travelers.
The infections in the state are the highest daily caseload for any Australian jurisdiction since the beginning of the pandemic. The omicron variant likely accounts for the majority of today’s cases and people should get booster shots as soon as they’re eligible, NSW Health said in a statement.
Still, in a state of more than 8 million people, only 206 people are hospitalized with Covid-19. Twenty-six are in intensive care and one death was recorded. The vaccination rate for the state is almost 95% of those aged 16 and over.
New Zealand Sees More Omicron Cases (9:30 a.m. HK)
New Zealand reported 39 new Covid-19 cases Saturday, confirming an additional four omicron infections in recent international arrivals, bringing the total new variant cases in managed quarantine to eight. Passengers arriving on flights with identified omicron cases will now have to complete all 10 days of isolation in a facility, authorities said in a statement.
California Urges Testing for Travelers (8:38 a.m HK)
California issued an advisory Friday recommending that travelers from other states or countries should be tested three to five days after arrival. The provision isn’t mandatory, as was the case with many restrictions on travel early in the pandemic.
With the omicron variant detected early in California, the advisory from the state’s Department of Public Health notes that since Thanksgiving average cases have increased 47% and hospitalizations 14%.
Big New York Shows Are Forced to Cancel (7:06 a.m. HK)
Two of New York City’s biggest shows, “Hamilton” and the Radio City Rockettes’ “Christmas Spectacular,” have been forced to cancel shows because of Covid-19 outbreaks.
Friday’s performance of “Hamilton” was called off because of breakthrough cases, the production said in a tweet. The Rockettes initially announced Friday that four shows would be canceled, also because of breakthrough cases, then later said the entire season would end “due to increasing challenges from the pandemic.”
Ontario Reimposes Restrictions (5:11 p.m. NY)
Ontario became the latest Canadian province to reinstate strict capacity limits on restaurants, shops and holiday gatherings as the spread of the omicron variant accelerated across the country.
“Friends, this variant is unlike anything we’ve ever seen and if we don’t take every single precaution we can, the modeling tells a scary story,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.
NFL and NHL Postpone Games (3:37 p.m. NY)
The National Football League and the National Hockey League have both postponed games as more players tested positive for Covid-19.
The NHL has postponed the games of three teams. The NFL, which on Dec. 16 updated its Covid-19 protocols, has postponed several games after a surge in cases that has seen over 100 players test positive in the past week.
France Curbs New Year’s Parties (3:25 p.m. NY)
French officials will curb outdoor revelry on New Year’s Eve in a bid to limit cases that risk overwhelming hospitals, Prime Minister Jean Castex said.
“I’m appealing to everyone’s responsibility to find other ways to celebrate than large gatherings, and avoiding moments of conviviality,” Castex said in a televised speech, as many people in France began their winter vacations.
N.Y. Breaks Pandemic Case Record (3:16 p.m. NY)
New York state is experiencing a dramatic spike in Covid-19 cases.
The state reported 21,027 new cases Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced, surpassing the previous record of 19,942 set in January. Of the roughly 263,500 people tested, 7.98% were positive for the virus.
The rapid rise comes in lockstep with the emergence of the omicron variant, which has appeared to spread easier than previous versions of the virus.
Texas Cases Surge 43% in One Week (2:26 p.m. NY)
Texas has seen a 43% rise in new cases in the past week as hospitals in some regions of the second-largest U.S. state grapple with the latest wave.
There were 5,011 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, a 17% increase in one day, state health department figures showed on Friday. The surge comes as medical centers in the Amarillo area are running low on adult intensive-case beds and have exhausted pediatric ICU capacity. In the state’s other hot spot, in the border city of El Paso, there are just five adult ICU beds available for a region with almost 900,000 inhabitants, state figures showed.
Ireland Clamps Down With Omicron Rising (1:50 p.m. NY)
Ireland will close bars and restaurants at 8 p.m. from Sunday and cut capacity at indoor and outdoor events in a bid to slow the spread of the omicron variant. While takeaway and delivery services will remain open, hospitality, cinemas, sports and cultural gatherings must end early until Jan. 30, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said.
Omicron now accounts for about 35% of new cases, Martin said, and warned of a “very significant wave” over the Christmas period.
London Hospitalizations Rise (12:15 p.m. NY)
The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus is starting to rise in London, the latest sign that omicron has taken hold in the capital.
It comes as the U.K. reported its third consecutive day of record numbers of new coronavirus cases. Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, warned on Wednesday that the “phenomenal pace” at which the strain is spreading will trigger a surge in admissions to hospitals over Christmas.
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