BBC News

The risk of needing hospital treatment could be 30 - 70% lower with Omicron than other variants.

Some 106,122 cases are announced - the latest in a series of record-breaking days for infections.

And advisers say boosters should be offered to some older children due to the risk of Omicron.

Services are currently running "as normal" but hospital trusts are preparing for an Omicron surge.

The new rules in England mean some people could end their self-isolation in time for Christmas.

The health secretary says 4.25m extra doses of antivirals will help the NHS to help fight the latest Covid wave.

A second booster would be offered to over-60s and medics as Israel prepares for an Omicron wave.

As the Omicron variant spreads across the continent, countries tighten curbs to brace for another wave.

But Boris Johnson says "we can't rule out any further measures after Christmas" as Omicron spreads fast.

Court papers show discrepancies at Immensa's laboratory were flagged as early as mid September.

Nicola Sturgeon says people should reduce their contacts but not cancel their Christmas plans.

"An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," warns the World Health Organization's head.

Meet the Welsh Ambulance Service's growing team who work to keep people out of hospital.

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison opens up about fertility struggles in a bid to break the stigma.

An ex-hospital support worker says he feels complicit in the "neglect" of Tony Hickmott.

Covid variants may be mutating inside people with suppressed immunity.

The head of the World Health Organization calls for "difficult decisions" to be made over festive plans.

The drug - sotrovimab - is given as an infusion to high-risk patients who have caught the virus.

The health secretary says ministers are considering wider factors before bringing in stricter measures.

Sadiq Khan says it's important that Londoners understand how serious the surge in cases is.

Scientists say admissions could reach 3,000 a day in England if more restrictions are not brought in soon.

A look back at how the pandemic evolved throughout 2021, and what we've learned from it.

Preliminary estimates by researchers suggest the top-up shot should help keep many people out of hospital.

But there is still a big variation across different regions, the UK Health Security Agency says.

Charities are disappointed but regulators say there is still little evidence of the drug's benefit.

Anyone testing positive now will be self-isolating on 25 December.

St George's Hospital in London is bracing for another wave of Covid in the wake of the Omicron variant.

Omicron could peak fast but subside sooner than past strains, England's chief medical officer says.

Charities are calling for more support for patients with severely weakened immune systems.

Lara Wahab needs a life-saving transplant, but no ICU beds were available for the operation.

Nine people have died from extremely rare side effects linked to Johnson & Johnson's jab.

Ian Cottrell said he had to sit on the floor because of bed shortage with little help from staff.

The tablet - molnupiravir - is given twice a day to high-risk patients who have caught the virus.

Experts say it is vital mums-to-be get immunised to protect themselves and their unborn child.

Pubs and restaurants are not closing, the PM insists - but he and Prof Chris Whitty urge caution.

Staff warning patients being put at risk because of handover delays at hospital.

We can learn some things from what's happening in South Africa, but there are also uncertainties.

Midwives and doctors say they should be given priority because of the potential harm to women and babies.

Prof Chris Whitty says Omicron is moving at a phenomenal pace, after 78,610 people test positive in a day.

Our medical editor Fergus Walsh makes some estimates for the next 10 days.

Dr Andrew Gregg denies his actions, related to drug amounts, hastened the deaths of two patients.

A woman whose daughters were abused in a mortuary by David Fuller says "there is no more joy".

Over-18s must now prove they are double-jabbed, or have a recent negative test, to enter certain venues.

People become eligible for a booster three months after a second jab, but can book after two months.

The new limits will not apply on Christmas Day, but people have been told to keep their celebrations as small as possible.

Trials are under way of the new method of delivering the vaccine, developed by Cambridge University.

Around 70 Tory MPs are expected to vote against some new rules - but Labour will vote in favour.

Appointments for in-person PCR tests were temporarily unavailable across the whole of England earlier.

Doctors have previously described the woman as the "most complicated" Covid patient in the world.

The government is aiming to give one million jabs a day across the UK during the rest of December.