Covid information reside: Omicron more likely to turn into dominant variant, Harvard researcher says; France to shut nightclubs | World information

Good day and welcome again to our coronavirus reside weblog.

I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be taking you thru all the newest Covid developments as they occur.

A number one infectious ailments specialist who screens variants for a analysis collaboration led by Harvard Medical Faculty believes the world is seeing “what seems to be a sign of exponential enhance of Omicron over Delta.”

“It’s nonetheless early days, however more and more, knowledge is beginning to trickle in, suggesting that Omicron is more likely to outcompete Delta in lots of, if not all, locations,” Dr Jacob Lemieux mentioned in an interview with the Related Press.

Others say it’s too quickly to know the way possible it’s that Omicron will unfold extra effectively than Delta, or, if it does, how briskly it would take over.

“There’s nonetheless numerous uncertainty … however once you put the early knowledge collectively, you begin to see a constant image emerge: that Omicron is already right here, and primarily based on what we’ve noticed in South Africa, it’s more likely to turn into the dominant pressure within the coming weeks and months and can possible trigger a surge in case numbers,” Lemieux added.

In the meantime, nightclubs in France will likely be ordered to shut for 4 weeks from Friday to counter a Covid surge that has put hospitals below pressure.

Right here’s every thing you may need missed over the previous few hours:

• New Covid restrictions are to be launched in Norway after a latest enhance in infections.
• Britain’s well being minister mentioned there’s now neighborhood transmission of the Omicron variant throughout areas of England.
• The Czech authorities will order Covid-19 vaccinations for individuals working in hospitals and nursing properties in addition to cops, troopers and another professions and all residents aged 60 and older.
• A brand new vary of pandemic restrictions will likely be imposed in Poland this week.
• Italy tightened restrictions on individuals nonetheless not vaccinated, limiting their entry to an array of locations and providers.
• Youngsters within the Philippines’ capital Manila returned to highschool after a close to two-year suspension.
• India’s circumstances of the Omicron variant rose to 21 over the weekend, officers mentioned, whereas Nepal and Thailand detected their first circumstances.
• South Africa is getting ready hospitals for extra admissions, because the Omicron variant pushes the nation right into a fourth wave of infections.
• Austria’s basic lockdown will finish on 11 December for individuals who have been vaccinated.
• All personal employers in New York Metropolis must mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for his or her employees.