in europe, italy has reintroduced mandatory face coverings outdoors; and greece is ordering people to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors. the uk, france and italy set daily covid records yesterday. in britain there were nearly 120,000 confirmed cases. here s our political correspondent, helen catt. the prime minister has said for a while that he believes this christmas would be better than last, and he said he won t flip the switch on any new restrictions in england before tomorrow. he s used his annual christmas message to urge us to take extra caution, though, and suggested getting a vaccine is in the christian spirit of the season. getting jabbed not just for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that, after all, is the teaching ofjesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves.
is the year of her platinum jubilee. the queen will certainly want to be involved in thejubilee as fully as possible, and there will be another event of special significance to her a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke of edinburgh, which, it has been announced, will take place at westminster abbey in the spring. nicholas witchell, bbc news. midnight mass celebrations have benn taking place in the west bank city of bethlehem. the annual procession is being led by the head of the roman catholic church in the region. international tourists have been mainly kept away during the pandemic in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. the re introduction of covid measures have left local businesses disappointed. the procession is being held in the city where christians revere as the birthplace ofjesus christ.
the prime minister has said for a while that he believes this christmas would be better than last, and he said he won t flip the switch on any new restrictions in england before tomorrow. he s used his annual christmas message to urge us to take extra caution, though, and suggested getting a vaccine is in the christian spirit of the season. getting jabbed not just for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that, after all, is the teaching ofjesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves. and so let s think of all those who are being good neighbours and thinking of others. in the 2a hours to yesterday, almost 120,000 new infections were recorded, a record high. and there were 147 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. in his christmas message, the labour leader said this year had
to take extra caution, though, and suggested getting a vaccine is in the christian spirit of the season. getting jabbed not just for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that, after all, is the teaching ofjesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves. and so let s think of all those who are being good neighbours and thinking of others. in the 2a hours to yesterday, almost 120,000 new infections were recorded, a record high. and there were 147 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. in his christmas message, the labour leader said this year had been incredibly difficult for the country. in the darkest of times, christian values of kindness, of compassion and hope have shone through. communities have come together to help one another. key workers have saved
with deliveries to some pharmacies. in his christmas message, boris johnson describes the jab as a wonderful gift that people can give to keep theirfamilies safe. the uk set another daily covid record yesterday with nearly 120,000 confirmed cases. here s our political correspondent, helen catt. the prime minister has said for a while that he believes this christmas would be better than last, and he said he won t flip the switch on any new restrictions in england before tomorrow. he s used his annual christmas message to urge us to take extra caution, though, and suggested getting a vaccine is in the christian spirit of the season. getting jabbed not just for themselves, for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that, after all, is the teaching ofjesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves.