who created one the great formula one teams — has died aged 79. the uk vaccination programme should be expanded as a matter of �*urgency�* because of the new omicron variant of coronavirus. that's according to the health secretary, sajid javid, as a third case has now been identified here. and there are expected to be more, with concerns that it may spread more easily and potentially evade current vaccines. ministers say they have acted swiftly — in england, mask—wearing in shops and on public transport will be a legal requirement once again — a change that will come into force on tuesday. here's our health correspondent, anna collinson. some breaking news... south africa and the president addressing the nation... , , ., ., nation... scientists have also identified _ nation... scientists have also identified cases _ nation... scientists have also identified cases in _ nation... scientists have also identified cases in countries. nation... scientists have also - identified cases in countries such as hong kong, australia, belgium, italy, united kingdom, germany, austria, denmark and israel. the early identification of this variant is a result of the excellent work done by our scientists in south africa and it is a direct result of the investment that our science and innovation as well as the health departments have made in our surveillance capabilities. we are one of the countries in the world that set up a surveillance network throughout the country. to help us monitor the behaviour of covid—i9. the early detention of this variant and the work that has gone into its understanding, of its properties and possible effects, means we are better equipped to respond to the variant. we pay tribute to our scientists, who are world—renowned and widely respected and have demonstrated that they have a deep knowledge of epidemiology. there are a number of things that we already know about this variant, omicron. as a result of the work our scientists have been doing on genome surveillance. firstly, we know that omicron has far more mutations than any previous variant. secondly, we know that omicron is readily detected by the current covid—i9 tests. this means that people who are showing covid—i9 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is covid—i9 positive should still get tested. thirdly, we know that this variant is different from other circulating variants and that it is not directly related to the delta or the peter variants. fourthly, we know that the variant is responsible for most of the infections found in the last two weeks and is showing up in all other provinces. in our country. there are still a number of things about the variant that we do not know yet. and that our scientists in south africa and elsewhere in the world are still hard at work establishing. over the next few days and weeks, as more data becomes available, we will have a better understanding of whether omicron is transmitted more easily between people and two, whether it increases the risk of reinfection. and three, whether this variant causes more severe disease. and four, how effective they current vaccines are against this variant, omicron. the identification of omicron. the identification of omicron coincides with the sudden rise in covid—i9 infections. this increase has been centred, although cases are also rising in other provinces. we have seen an average age —— average of 1600 cases in the last seven days. compared to just 500 new delhi cases in the previous week. 275 new delhi cases the week before that. the proportion of tests that are positive has risen from around 2% to 9% in less than one week. this is extremely sharp of a rise in infections in a short space of time if cases continue to climb, we can expect to enter a fourth wave of infections within the next few weeks. if not sooner. this should not come as a surprise. epidemiologists and disease modellers have told us that we should expect a fourth wave in early december. scientists have also told us to expect the emergence of new variants. there are several concerns about the omicron variant and we are still not sure exactly how it will behave going forward. however, we already have the tools that we need to protect ourselves against it. we know enough about the variant to know enough about the variant to know what we need to do to reduce transmission and to protect ourselves against severe disease as well as death. the first, which is the most important, we have a powerful tool called vaccination. since the first covid—19 vaccines became available last year, we have seen how vaccines have dramatically reduced severe illness, hospitalisation and death in south africa. and, indeed, across the world. vaccines do work. and vaccines are saving lives. since we launched our public vaccination programme in may of this year, over 25 million vaccine doses have been administered in south africa. this is a remarkable achievement. it is by far the most extensive health intervention undertaken in the history of this country in such a short space of time. a1% of the aduu short space of time. a1% of the adult population have received at least one vaccine dose. and 35.6% of adults in south africa are fully vaccinated against covid—19. significantly, 57% of people aged 60 years and older are fully vaccinated. and 53% of people aged between 50 and 60 are also fully vaccinated. while this is welcome progress, it is not enough to enable us to reduce infections, to prevent illness and also to prevent death. and to restore our economy. vaccination against covid—19 is free, as we know. tonight, i would like to call in every person who has not been vaccinated to go to their nearest vaccination station without delay. if there is someone in your family or among your friends who is not vaccinated, i call on you to encourage them to get vaccinated. we still have too many people who are expressing doubt and who are resisting to be vaccinated. this is the time for us to go and get vaccinated. vaccination is by far the most important way to protect yourself and those around you against the omicron variant. to reduce the impact of the fourth wave and to help restore the social freedoms we all yearn for. vaccination is also vital to the return of our economy to full operation, to the resumption of travel and to the recovery of vulnerable sectors, like tourism and hospitality. the development of the vaccines we have against covid—19 has been made possible thanks to the millions of ordinary people who have volunteered to participate in the trials that have been had to advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity. they are the people who have proven that these vaccines are safe and effective. these people are our heroes. theyjoined the ranks of health workers, who have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic for close on two years, and to continue to care for the sick, who continue to administer vaccines and who continue to save lives. we need to be thinking about the people who have been courageous when we consider getting vaccinated. by getting vaccinated, we are not only protecting ourselves, but we are also reducing the pressure on our health care system, on our health care workers and reducing the risks faced by our health care workers as well. south africa, like a number of other countries, is looking at booster vaccines for people who are at greatest risk and for him the booster may be beneficial. health care workers in the trial, many of whom were vaccinated more than six months ago, are being offered the johnson &johnson booster doses. pfizer has filed an application to the south african health regulatory authority for a third dose to be administered after the two dose primary series. the ministerial advisory committee on vaccines has already indicated that it will recommend a staged introduction of boosters commencing with the older population. other people with immune deficiency, such as those on cancer treatment, renal dialysis and on steroid treatment for autoimmune diseases are allowed booster doses on recommendation of their doctors. as individuals, companies and government, we have a responsibility to ensure that all people in this country can work, travel and socialise safely. we therefore have been undertaking engagements with social partners and other stakeholders on introducing measures that can make vaccination a condition for access to workplaces, public events, public transport and public events, public transport and public establishments. now, these engagements include discussions that we have been having at a level between government, labour, business and the community constituency. where there is already broad agreement on the need for such measures. government has set up a task team that will undertake broad consultations on making vaccination mandatory. forspecific consultations on making vaccination mandatory. for specific activities and locations. that is, two vaccinations compulsory for certain locations and certain activities. the task team will report to the interministerial committee on vaccination chaired by the deputy president, which will make recommendations to cabinet on a fair and sustainable approach to vaccine mandates. we do realise that the introduction of such a measure is a difficult and complex issue. but if we do not address this seriously, and as a matter of urgency, we will continue to be vulnerable as a people to new variants and will continue to suffer new waves of infection. i would like us to consider this matter very seriously. the number of other countries, including our own country, the number of countries have made vaccinations mandatory. i would like a consultation to be engaged in, but i do want us to treat it seriously so that we are able to defend our people. the second tool we have to fight the new variant is to continue to wear our face masks whenever we are in public places and in the company of people outside our house. there is now overwhelming evidence that the proper and consistent wearing of a cloth mask or other suitable face covering over both the nose and the mouth is the best way to prevent transmission of the virus from one person to another. the third tool we have defied the new variant is the cheapest and the most abundant. and that is fresh. this means that we must try as much as possible to be outdoors when we meet people outside our household. when we are indoors with other people or in cars, buses and taxis, we need to keep the windows open to ensure that air can flow freely through the space. this is what our scientists, our medical personnel continue to advise, and they pass on that advice to us at the national coronavirus command council. which is precisely what i am doing to all of us tonight. the fourth tool we have to fight the new variant is to avoid gatherings, particularly indoor gatherings. mass gatherings such as at major conferences and meetings, especially those that require a large number of people to be in close contact over an extended period, should be changed to virtual formats. end of year parties and the end of your raves that people participate in, as well as other celebrations, should be avoided or postponed. and every person should think twice before attending or organising such a gathering. last year, many of our young people attended these raves. and they were centres of massive infection. where gatherings do take place, all the necessary covid protocols must be closely observed. every additional contact we have increases our risk of becoming infected or infecting someone else. fellow south africans... the national coronavirus command council met yesterday to consider the recent rise in infections and the possible impact of omicron variant. this meeting was followed by meetings earlier today of the president's co—ordinating council, which is attended, as you know, by our premiers and members of the coronavirus council. as well as our metro layers. irate the coronavirus council. as well as our metro layers.— the coronavirus council. as well as our metro layers. we will leave the resident, our metro layers. we will leave the president. cyril— our metro layers. we will leave the president, cyril ramaphosa, - our metro layers. we will leave the j president, cyril ramaphosa, there. dealing with the issues of omicron. he is very concerned about this new variant and he was very statesman—like, not much politics in there with some important bits of information. the province referred to as having seen the cases were virtually all the cases of omicron is in north—west south africa, which borders botswana. actually one of the nearest cities to that province is gaborone, the capital of botswana. places like conway and the nearest cities are bloemfontein. it has spread to all the provinces, one of the most significant things is that they have gone from 500 cases every day on average in the previous week to 1600 in the current week. that is more than triple the number of new infections and that is why people are warning that this could be, it is an advisory, but it could be, it is an advisory, but it could be a much more infectious variant, will be a doctor is treating patients to say the actual infection is milder and were heard from claire bennett earlier, an expert at the department of cambridge, who said this was the case with sars, it became less severe as it mutated. we don't know if this is the case with coronavirus and we should not be complacent, there is but some cause for optimism, but it may be the case. we are at an early stage with this variant and that was the president of south africa speaking live from pretoria, in the last few minutes. that's return to the situation in the uk, we have had three confirmed cases of r. our health correspondent has the latest. taking up a booster when eligible was always important but since the emergence of the heavily mutated variant is even more important. queues like this in slough could include people as young as 18 with a key government adviser saying the role that could be expanded sooner than planned. the government also announced new measures yesterday including making face masks compulsory in shops and on public transport in england as well as asking all uk arrivals to take a pcr test. everyone wants us to protect the progress we have made. that is why we have acted very swiftly and i believe in a proportionate way with the news of this new variant. that includes the decision on thursday to red list six countries. we added four more countries to that list. a third omicron case has now been detected in the uk, along with two others confirmed in brentwood in essex at nottingham. it is feared there may be many more. to slow any spread, targeted testing is taking place at locations where cases have been found. however, for now, the government in england is not asking people to work from home again, something that was advised by sage and is already in place in scotland. we are already advising people to work at home wherever that is practical and possible. our advice on that hasn't changed in scotland in the way it has in recent months in england. it's not a political competition. i've said all along that my first and most important duty is to do what ijudged to be correct and appropriate and proportionate to keep people in scotland are safe. there are many unknowns with this new variant, so over the coming weeks, scientists are going to answer some key questions such as, is it more transmissible? meaning does it spread more easily? does it cause more severe disease compared to other variants? and does it reduce the effectiveness of current covid vaccines and boosters? there is some potentially positive news which could help save christmas. the doctor who first spotted the new omicron variant in south africa said she found many patients who test positive displayed very mild symptoms, no cough, more tiredness. what we are seeing clinically in south africa and, remember, at the epicentre where i am practising is extremely mild. we haven't admitted anyone. i spoke to other colleagues of mine and it's the same picture. the government believes vaccines will still work against the omicron variant. the us company moderna says it should know in the coming weeks and, if needed, a newjab could be available early in the new year. anna collinson, bbc news. motor racing legend sir frank williams, who founded and was team principal of williams racing, has died at the age of 79. the williams team announced his death this afternoon. sir frank marked 50 years as an f1 team boss in 2019, having run two teams in that time. let's reflect on the life of sir frank with rob manifield, host of the everything racing podcast. thank you forjoining us from devon. sad news and somewhat unexpected? yes. very sad news and it has hit everyone in the motorsports community, notjust f1, drivers, teams, fans, it has hit us really hard because frank was a legend. haifa hard because frank was a legend. how imortant hard because frank was a legend. how important was — hard because frank was a legend. how important was he in establishing formula one as the big event that it is right now in the sporting calendar?— is right now in the sporting calendar? ~ ~ . , ., ., is right now in the sporting calendar? . . , ., ., ., calendar? well, williams for one of the bi est calendar? well, williams for one of the biggest teams _ calendar? well, williams for one of the biggest teams for _ calendar? well, williams for one of the biggest teams for a _ calendar? well, williams for one of the biggest teams for a long - calendar? well, williams for one of the biggest teams for a long time l the biggest teams for a long time and they are still a big team. back in the 80s and into the 90s, there were huge, the team to beat. they had nigel mansell and alain prost and damon hill, huge stars and people who people wanted to see and watch on television. frank was my contribution to the success of formula one into the 90s cannot be understated. he formula one into the 90s cannot be understated-— understated. he also had to do with the practical — understated. he also had to do with the practical difficulties _ understated. he also had to do with the practical difficulties of— understated. he also had to do with the practical difficulties of being - the practical difficulties of being a tetraplegic for quite a long period of his life? it a tetraplegic for quite a long period of his life? it happened in 1986. if anything, _ period of his life? it happened in 1986. if anything, it _ period of his life? it happened in 1986. if anything, it made - period of his life? it happened in 1986. if anything, it made him . 1986. if anything, it made him stronger. not only was he fighting battles in the track, he was fighting them off it. it never stopped him, never change he was. it made him even more determined to overcome the obstacles in front of him and yes... just overcome the obstacles in front of him and yes- - -_ him and yes... just a strong man. what are your _ him and yes... just a strong man. what are your recollections - him and yes... just a strong man. what are your recollections of - him and yes... just a strong man. what are your recollections of the j what are your recollections of the personality? the personality of somebody who manages a team like that must be hugely important. you are dealing with the egos of sportsmen and performers and some of them were quite big and you must meld them into the team identity. it is not easy. meld them into the team identity. it is not easy-— is not easy. definitely not on one thin that is not easy. definitely not on one thing that sir— is not easy. definitely not on one thing that sir frank _ is not easy. definitely not on one thing that sir frank is _ is not easy. definitely not on one thing that sir frank is famous - is not easy. definitely not on one thing that sir frank is famous forj thing that sir frank is famous for is he did things his way! his way. and he got the results because of it. he was a strong, determined individual, on and off the track in terms of his personal life and professional and that is why his death has hit everybody so hard because he made williams such a big name. and he did thatjust because of him on the likes of patrick head and adrian newey and people like that, everybody around him. it reached a point where people wanted to race for sir frank. mas reached a point where people wanted to race for sir frank.— to race for sir frank. was he at heart a technical _ to race for sir frank. was he at heart a technical man - to race for sir frank. was he at heart a technical man or - to race for sir frank. was he at heart a technical man or was i to race for sir frank. was he at| heart a technical man or was he to race for sir frank. was he at - heart a technical man or was he more in the kind of wider sports, some people are more on the finance side and some people are more on the technical side?— and some people are more on the technical side? what sir frank was aood at technical side? what sir frank was good at most _ technical side? what sir frank was good at most business _ technical side? what sir frank was good at most business deals, - technical side? what sir frank was i good at most business deals, getting the engine and the driver deals. he spotted young talent. he had patrick head as a technical guy, adrian newey helped design the cars but he sought young talent. he was a fantastic mind for notjust f1 but the wider motorsport world. he saw people ofjenson button, juan pablo montoya, damon hill, he saw these young drivers and he thought, i want him in my car one day. that is definitely more than the technical aspect. frank was just a really great leader. aspect. frank was 'ust a really great ladenh aspect. frank was 'ust a really great leader. quite a cut-throat business at _ great leader. quite a cut-throat business at the _ great leader. quite a cut-throat business at the time _ great leader. quite a cut-throat business at the time he - great leader. quite a cut-throat business at the time he was - great leader. quite a cut-throat business at the time he was at l great leader. quite a cut-throat l business at the time he was at his peak? business at the time he was at his eak? ' i1 i , ., business at the time he was at his eak? ' :: in . . , , peak? 100% and it always will be. but sir peak? 10096 and it always will be. itut sir frank— peak? 10096 and it always will be. but sir frank went _ peak? 10096 and it always will be. but sir frank went about - peak? 10096 and it always will be. but sir frank went about it - peak? 10096 and it always will be. but sir frank went about it with i peak? 10096 and it always will be. l but sir frank went about it with his own style and he got the results he wanted. seven drivers�* titles, nine constructors�* championship wins, the stats speak for themselves and williams are the second most successful constructor in f1 history and they were a little, independent team. they became the big name. which is his legacy, i think. intern; which is his legacy, i think. very well some _ which is his legacy, i think. very well some do. _ which is his legacy, i think. very well some do. thank _ which is his legacy, i think. very well some do. thank you - which is his legacy, i think. very well some do. thank you for that. there will be more on the podcast? yes, you can find that on drs podcasts and spotify and all the main apps. if podcasts and spotify and all the main apps-— podcasts and spotify and all the mainaus. . , . , ., . main apps. if anybody wants to hear more about — main apps. if anybody wants to hear more about frank _ main apps. if anybody wants to hear more about frank williams, - main apps. if anybody wants to hear more about frank williams, they - main apps. if anybody wants to hear| more about frank williams, they can find it there. thank you forjoining us. now it�*s time for a look at the weather. hello, it�*s another cold, frosty, icy night on the way and some sleet and snow in parts of the midlands and across southern england to clear away before we get into the night. further wintry showers along the north sea coast, they�*re going to be easing for many. as we go through the evening and night, it is clear that frost is sitting in. icy patches where we have seen some wet weather around and temperatures down to —5, —6 in places. things are going to change on monday. after a cold, frosty, largely sunny start, cloud into northern ireland and scotland, bringing some outbreaks of rain. a little sleet and snow to the higher ground ahead of that in scotland. most of the rain here towards the north and north—west. but patchy rain heading towards northern england, wales and the south—west. much of east anglia and the south—east with sunny spells after any early cloud clears away. the wind picking up again, particularly in north—west scotland, but the big thing about monday is the range of temperatures. a cold day in the east, turning milder in the west, milder for all on tuesday before it turns colder again.

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