they re not making profits. they re carrying the staff and carrying the costs. so that evidence is there about omicron and what it will be in the future, we might not know. but the damage is being done now. but for now, they re waiting for the government and a decision that could come at any time. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. so what are the rules at the moment around the uk? in england there are no limits on socialising, but plan b restrictions have been introduced. that means face coverings are mandatory in shops and public transport. covid passes are needed for many venues and events and you re being told to work from home where possible. in scotland, nicola sturgeon says there won t be new rules for christmas day but you re being advised to limit socialising to just two other households before and after. businesses must take reasonable measures to minimise transmission, like one way systems and app based ordering. and again face coverings are mandatory in most
us, especially here in new york, it is making up at least 70% of coronavirus cases in the us. imilli coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in new coronavirus cases in the us. with cases so high in new york, our hospitals concerned they will not be able to cope? hospitals concerned they will not be able to cape? hospitals concerned they will not be able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen a able to cope? absolutely, since last week we had seen a complete - able to cope? absolutely, since last i week we had seen a complete change in the cases spiking, long lines stretching for hours. the new york city mayor has said it is here now, they are trying to get rapid testing to community areas, trying to lower the lines, by getting people tested, and they are b
not the virus, but the government s approach to tackling it. where many were hoping for clarity ahead of christmas, there is instead uncertainty. covid cases are surging and borisjohnson and his cabinet met yesterday, but they have yet to decide on any of the key questions. are new covid measures required for england? if so, how soon and how severe? we agreed we should keep the data from now on under constant review, keep following it hour by hour. and unfortunately i must say to people we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public. so for now, the vaccination drive goes on, but no new restrictions. several ministers in mrjohnson s cabinet are reluctant to see more enacted, concerned about the effect on the economy and wanting more data on how this new covid wave is impacting hospitals.
is happening, large numbers of those people might be asymptomatic but it means they can bring it to a gathering and transmitted to somebody much more vulnerable and likely to get the severe disease. i wanted to end by asking you to give us some light at the end of the tunnel and i wondered if and when you thought there might be a point where you and i could be having a conversation about covid as being a relatively mild disease. i would really like to be having that conversation with you, and in person, i would love to be able to do that. it always seems hardest, the the old saying is it is darkest before the dawn and i know it has been a really difficult time for
this is bbc news, i m rebecca jones. these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. the world health organization urges caution over the festive season to save lives as the omicron variant continues to spread globally. certainly not cancel christmas, but have a careful christmas so that you can have notjust a happy new year but many happy new years. omicron now accounts for nearly three quarters of new coronavirus cases in the united states. president biden is to outline plans to try to tackle the variant. as borisjohnson refuses to rule out new covid measures british businesses call for clarity on the rules. the uk government says there ll be news on financial support today in other news, a jury in new york