New 59,610 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the UK in the latest 24 hour

New 59,610 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the UK in the latest 24 hour period, the fifth highest daily total of the pandemic.150 people have died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total to 146,627.

Boris Johnson has told Cabinet members that there are 'early indications' that the Omicron Covid variant is 'more transmissible' than Delta 

Health Security Sajid Javid declares there is now community transmission of Omicron across multiple regions in England. 

Experts say you can protect yourself from the omicron coronavirus variant by doing the same things done to protect from any other variant: get vaccinated, wear a mask and avoid crowds.