The Latest Breaking News from Omicron

Exclusive: Omicron wave hit blood donations over Christmas forcing regulator to issue fresh warning to hospitals

According to reports, No 10 is drawing up plans to end England’s remaining restrictions from as early as March

Australia suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic on Tuesday as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalisation rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly. Australia is dealing with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, fueled by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that has put more…

China is urging people to wear masks and gloves when opening mail, especially from abroad, after authorities suggested the first case of the Omicron coronavirus virus variant found in Beijing could have arrived via a package from Canada.

Israel will continue to offer a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot despite preliminary findings that it is not enough to prevent Omicron infections, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday, predicting contagions stoked by the variant will wane in a week.

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news

South West business leaders are now the least optimistic in the UK, according to the FSB

Covid cases have plunged in London boroughs by up to 54 per cent in a week, official figures have revealed as calls grew for the working from home guidance to be ditched as quickly as possible.

Private hospitals remain on standby to take public patients, with a federal government agreement to help ease the pressure on the health system from the COVID-19 outbreaks still in place.