Morning mail: Australians urged to hold Christmas outside, Omicron surges globally, bell hooks tributes

Friday: Experts encourage people to hold Christmas gatherings outdoors to help curb the spread of the Covid Omicron variant. Plus: writers and artists pay tribute to acclaimed author bell hooks

Good morning. Governments around the world are bracing for a rise in Omicron cases with Australians being urged to hold Christmas gatherings outside to stop the spread. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson reportedly joined a Downing Street pizza party during the May 2020 lockdown.

Experts are urging people to hold their Christmas gatherings outside during the day and to reduce the number of invitees, as Covid cases surge in New South Wales and Victoria. As both states ease restrictions heading into the Christmas break, there are growing concerns the spreading Omicron variant may jeopardise family gatherings. Prof Peter Collignon, an infectious disease physician, said that aside from getting a booster shot, the best way to keep gatherings Covid-safe was to hold them outside. I think you'd get some protection, especially for your older relatives, if you tried as much as possible to hold your gatherings outside," he said. As it becomes clearer that the variant is more infectious and more vaccine-evasive, how worried should we be?