Omicron driving record rate of Covid infection in South African province

Officials say variant's R number is believed to be above 6, though most cases are mild and no deaths reported

• Coronavirus - latest updates

The pace of Covid infections in the South African province of Gauteng is outstripping anything seen in previous waves, and officials say Omicron is now the dominant variant.

Angelique Coetzee, the chair of the South African Medical Association, said Omicron's R number, measuring its ability to spread, was believed to be above 6. The R number for Delta, the dominant variant globally, is estimated to be above 5.