good afternoon. the health secretary. the health secretary sajid javid has urged us all to be cautious in the run up to christmas and says he can't rule out further restrictions as the government continues to battle the fast spreading omicron variant. mrjavid said 7 people have now died after contracting omicron and it was already the dominant strain in england as well as in scotland. sanchia berg reports. # driving home for christmas... to the sound of christmas songs, people queued this morning forjabs outside a chilly wembley stadium. omicron accounts for an estimated 80% of cases in london now. people are trying to protect themselves and their family christmas plans. i would prefer to have it done before christmas. i have an elderly grandfather who is 90 years old so i want to be able to see him and get this over and done with. as soon as i heard that they have an event here where they are giving the boosters out, so i decided to book one immediately for myself. it feels really good. but the virus is spreading so rapidly, the health secretary didn't rule out new restrictions even for next week. there are no guarantees in this pandemic. i think at this point we have to keep everything in review. he urged people across the country to be cautious in the days ahead. if i'm going to see my mum for example, who is very elderly, like most older people, she's more vulnerable than younger people, i will take a test and i mightjust not have the usual amount of hugs i get from my mum. you just take a little bit of caution and i think that's a sensible response but the most important thing that anyone can do right now is to get boosted. earlier this week in central london people were still out and about but venues were generally quieter now is the variant spreads and scientist worn they cannot say how severe it will be. frankly the evidence is not there that it is either less severe or more severe than the delta variant. we just don't know, but what we do know is that the cases are rising very fast. so far there are 85 patients in english hospitals with omicron and seven confirmed deaths but the health secretary said they were typically infected over a fortnight ago, well before omicron became the dominant strain. let's speak to our medical editor fergus walsh. fergus, what are the options facing the government now? what fergus, what are the options facing the government now?— fergus, what are the options facing the government now? what is driving this is the very _ the government now? what is driving this is the very start _ the government now? what is driving this is the very start advice _ the government now? what is driving this is the very start advice from - this is the very start advice from the scientific advisory group, sage, who say that unless action is taken beyond plan b in england there will almost certainly be unsustainable pressure on the nhs, at least 3000 hospital admissions per day but perhaps many more and it produced a range of daily deaths from 600 per day up to 6000. that is a huge range of numbers there and that is because we still do not understand, firstly how serious omicron will be, it has not overwhelmed the health service in south africa, and we do not understand yet how well vaccinations, two or three doses will hold up against protection against severe disease. they should give very strong protection. what sage has looked at is potentially reverting to the situation we were in in the first months of this year, when there was the rule of six, there was the ban on outdoor, indoor hospitality, there were restrictions on the number of people who could enter your home, but that is really unpalatable for the government, which has struggled to get through the plan b measures and looking beyond that, many in the conservative party and indeed the wider public will not want to see further restrictions in the run—up to christmas. further restrictions in the run-up to christmas.— further restrictions in the run-up to christmas. if borisjohnson does decide to go for more restrictions, he could face considerable opposition to them from within his own party. his chief brexit negotiator, lord frost, has resigned from the government and among the reasons given were his opposition to vaccine passports and further restrictions. here's our political correspondent charlotte rose. the reaction to news of the chief brexit negotiator, lord frost's resignation came quickly with members in a whatsapp group of 100 tory mps describing it as a very worrying and a disaster. in the images of the messages first broadcast by sky news, the culture secretary, nadine dorries, steps in to defend the prime minister, telling mps to show a bit of loyalty to the person who won an 83 seat majority and delivered brexit. the response, she is removed from the whatsapp group by senior brexiteer steve baker, who says enough is enough. reacting to the news this morning, the health secretary paid tribute to lord frost. i'm sorry to see him go. i think he's been an outstanding public servant. he's done great things for this country, not least in helping to get brexit done but he's resigned out of principle. i think you can see that. i know all about resigning from government out of principle and he has made that decision. and many conservative backbenchers are great with him. backbenchers agree with him. the pm suffered his biggest rebellion over that issue last week when 100 of his own mps voted against him. many of the things he worries about, i and many of my colleagues worry about. we want to see the conservative party as a low tax party going forward and we don't want our civil liberties to be restricted. labour says his departure leaves the prime minister in a weaker position. where the prime minister should be leading at the moment he's in hiding, hiding from his own party, hiding from his backbenchers and failing to lead, and that's an abdication of responsibility and our message to the government is you don't have to be held hostage by your own backbenchers. you can work with labour. although sajid javid was keen to insist this morning the government would do whatever was necessary to curb the rise in omicron infections, all of this leaves the pm with less room to manoeuvre. it seems the resignation of the government's key man in brussels may have an impact on policies much closer to home. charlotte rose, bbc news. a month—long lockdown has begun in the netherlands in response to an expected surge in cases of the omicron variant. non—essentialshops, bars, gyms hairdressers and other public venues will be closed until at least mid—january. the measures announced last night — make the country the first in the eu to re—enter a strict nationwide lockdown. england's cricketers are heading for defeat in the second ashes test against australia in adelaide. they were set an unlikely 468 to win after the hosts declared, their chance of securing a draw now looks remote after they lost four wickets including their captain joe root. australia only need six wickets tomorrow to win the match and go two nil up in the series. the world renowned architect richard rogers, who was behind some of the most striking buildings of the past half century, has died at the age of 88. he gained international attention in the nineteen—seventies with the pompidou centre in paris and other works included the millennium dome in london. our correspondent david sillito looks back on his life. it's hard to exaggerate what a shock this building was. the pompidou centre's facade, with its confusion of pipes, ducts and external corridors, was revolutionary — the work of renzo piano and a young british architect called richard rogers. the building itself is inside out. in other words, what you usually see inside, which are those long, dank, dark corridors which you have in big institutional buildings — and it is an institution, theoretically, though i dislike the word, it's an institution — there's long, dark corridors on the outside. they're actually the fun. the inside—out design made the interior airy and open and equally important was the public space outside. this was �*60s egalitarianism inspired by the piazzas of his home town, florence in italy. his parents had arrived in britain in the �*305. the young richard rogers struggled at school. he was dyslexic, but he got into art college and then trained as an architect where he met another future superstar of british architecture, norman foster. their high—tech style, though, took a while to win favour. his inside—out lloyd's building in london was not to everyone's taste. it's what his royal highness, the prince of wales, described as a carbuncle on the face of whatever you like to call it. but his moment had come. madrid airport, with its huge bamboo roof, won the stirling prize. the millennium dome was signature rogers — again, innovative technology to create a huge, flexible space. how you get from one place to the other... but not all his plans were popular. proposed transformation of london's southbank was fought off by residents, but it didn't stop politicians seeking his advice on reshaping cities. there is a very major part of my outfit which is about trying to create a world which is influenced for the better, through public space, through private space and so on. the welsh zenith. terminal five at heathrow. he was bold, colourful and has more than left his mark. the richard rogers vision was of a city that was open, sociable, welcoming. the architect richard rogers, who's died at the age of 88. that's it for now. the next news on bbc one is at ii.20pm. bye for now. hello. you're watching the bbc news channel. in the run up to christmas restaurants, pubs and other venues in the hosptiality industry have seen mass cancellations at what would normally be their busiest time of year. the sector has been asking for more financial help and say further restrictions would be devasting for the industry. earlier, i spoke to the ceo of uk hospitality kate nicholls, who gave her reaction. we understand ministers need to be led by the data and the evidence. what we understand is to make sure those measures that are taken are proportionate, balanced and pragmatic and support for business is available if it will have an economic cost but we would urge ministers to allow the sector to remain open and trading, to keep our venues and premises are safe. it will be far more beneficial to the industry to be to trade than to be closed. we know from bitter experience more often we go into lockdown, the more businesses we lose because the costs are so substantially higher. let lose because the costs are so substantially higher.- lose because the costs are so substantially higher. let me bring ou a substantially higher. let me bring you a comment — substantially higher. let me bring you a comment we've _ substantially higher. let me bring you a comment we've had - substantially higher. let me bring | you a comment we've had through substantially higher. let me bring - you a comment we've had through from a spokesperson for the treasury saying the chancellor has spoken to a range of business and industry leaders in recent days. we recognise how important the festive period is for so many businesses. and the government will continue to engage constructively on how it can best provide ongoing support to businesses and sectors affected. your reaction? we businesses and sectors affected. your reaction?— businesses and sectors affected. your reaction? we have had regular and constructive _ your reaction? we have had regular and constructive dialogue _ your reaction? we have had regular and constructive dialogue and - and constructive dialogue and engagement with ministers and with cabinet ministers at all levels across government including the treasury over the last 2—3 weeks as this crisis has developed. we have been heartened to hear they understand the devastating impact that these not necessarily restrictions about the crashing of consumer confidence has had, this complete disconnect between wallasey and economic reality our members are facing. that's where we need support to step into key businesses viable and protectjobs in the run—up to christmas. we are heartened by the discussions and the commitment to continuing to support the industry through the loss of its busiest and most profitable trading period but crucially those 2—3 months afterwards when we make a loss even in the best of years. it is notjust a short—term hit where we see 50% of revenue lost and booking is cancelled, it is also the need to make sure jobs and businesses are viable right the way through until easter. ~ ., ., , ,., easter. what sort of support is on the table? _ easter. what sort of support is on the table? we — easter. what sort of support is on the table? we are _ easter. what sort of support is on the table? we are waiting - easter. what sort of support is on the table? we are waiting to - easter. what sort of support is on the table? we are waiting to hearj the table? we are waiting to hear what the government _ the table? we are waiting to hear what the government says - the table? we are waiting to hear what the government says in - the table? we are waiting to hear- what the government says in response to the evidence we presented them about the devastating impact and rapidly deteriorating situation our members face over the last six days. we waited to see what comes back. we have asked for a package, we want cash grants that are sitting with local authorities to be given out immediately to businesses that are most at risk and facing the most loss of trade, we would like to see a suspension of business rates payments in quarter one to make sure we protect the revenues and cash within those businesses and longer term to secure investment and make sure businesses have the ability to navigate what is a turbulent time, an extension of the lower rate of vat throughout the summer. if we have an early signal of that next week we should be able to make sure businesses have the ability to trade through this challenging environment. ., , , ., environment. previously, right at the start, there _ environment. previously, right at the start, there was _ environment. previously, right at the start, there was a _ environment. previously, right at the start, there was a sense - environment. previously, right at the start, there was a sense it i environment. previously, right at. the start, there was a sense it was almost better for things to be officially shut down because that is when furlough would kick in rather than that situation where confidence was ebbing away and things were being cancelled. we are in the situation again confidence is falling away, there have been lots of cancellations in the run—up to christmas but it sounds like a different position now in that, is there more sympathy from government for supporting businesses in that circumstance rather than just where they are ordered to close down specifically? we they are ordered to close down specifically?— they are ordered to close down specifically? they are ordered to close down secificall ? ~ , . .,, ., specifically? we very much hope that will be the case. _ specifically? we very much hope that will be the case. at _ specifically? we very much hope that will be the case. at the _ specifically? we very much hope that will be the case. at the moment - specifically? we very much hope that will be the case. at the moment it i will be the case. at the moment it is not there and the support is not sufficient. the support packages available now work to get the industry through the difficult recovery period towards the end of this year, to get us to december, december is 25% of hospitality normal profits and that was what would get us through to recovery so the support packages to date are fantastic but we relied upon having december. we don't want to close, we have 50—60% of normal revenues across the country, significantly worse in city centre locations, revenues down at 30—40%, so we need support measures to kick in at full strength. we know from previous experience this would be our fourth time of lockdown, every time we lockdown, we close, fewer open up, jobs and businesses are lost and it cost the industry a significant amount even when closed, it costs a business 10— £15,000 every month in overheads, that was when we had 100% business rate support and 100% furlough. to leave these businesses in limbo or lock them down further would be a significant cost to the sector. we've heard the situation in the netherlands as it begins a nationwide lockdown. but what's the situation across the rest of europe? germany has become the latest european country to ban most travellers from britain. from sunday, german nationals and residents arriving from the uk will need to quarantine for two weeks, regardless of their covid vaccination status. there were protests in several german cities on saturday against covid—19 measures. thousands of people marched in dusseldorf and frankfurt, where there were clashes between demonstrators and police. meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in barcelona and bilbao in spain to protest against covid—19 passes that are now required to enter bars, restaurants, gyms and care homes. with a nationwide vaccination rate of nearly 80%, spain has been largely spared the latest wave sweeping across europe. elsewhere in europe, hundreds gathered in the italian city of turin against the extension of a covid—19 state of emergency — which runs to the end of march next year, and the so—called green pass certificate. the omicron variant is spreading quickly in italy, with new cases identified in the country's north and south. the cold weather and the increasing spread of coronavirus, means that homeless people across the uk and those helping them are facing a challenging winter. in scotland, a new law could be introduced requiring public organisations to identify those at risk of becoming homeless and refer them for support. emma snow has been to meet a paramedic from derby, a paramedic from derby who helps rough sleepers in the city. there is nothing left in my world and i have nothing, she's my star. tracy is a beacon of hope for the rough sleepers in derby and she currently looks after 200 homeless people. each day i go out on outreach from the city centre and down to normanton look out for any new rough sleepers or anybody that i need to make contact with, follow up on their health, medication, gp appointments and things like that or see how they got on in hospital and things. it's been difficult for tracy to gain the trust of the rough sleepers in derby. at first it took me six months to find my footfall with them because they are quite disengaging with any health, they don't attend hospital or gp appointments or engage with other workers, but it's just when i attended one that was having an overdose and since i brought that person back round, that's it, i'm kind of end with the gang now, sort of. so i'm a bit like their mother, to be honest. she chuckles. because of this lady i've never had to spend a night on the streets, she has my back i have mental health problems, i have alcohol issues, this lady works unbelievable hours. without tracy you'd be dead? and that's the truth. many of us would be, actually, there's a few people whose life she's actually saved. she means everything to me, and some more. she's worth her weight in gold and then some, she's our little green goddess. tracy cares so much about the homeless people in derby that she really has a day off. i think i've had five days off, i had a really bad cold, chest infection. she laughs. and that's in how long? and that's in the two and a half years. one of tracy's many projects has been overseeing vaccinating rough sleepers in derby. yeah, we've introduced quite a lot of things now and actually when you see them walking round they are quite healthy to what they was when we first started. tracy is making a huge difference to the community and she really is a health care hero. i can see what difference i'm making plus it's nice that they've got that contact whereas they've never had it before so if they are feeling poorly they don't hesitate now in coming to find me or signpost other people through me. so, yeah, it's all about that engagement and that trust now, you see. piers corbyn has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging people to attack mps' offices. the met police said the arrest related to a video filmed during saturday's rally in london against covid restrictions. he was arrested in south london in the early hours of sunday. the force hasn't named mr corbyn however it previously said it was assessing a video which appears to show him calling for direct action. a murder investigation has been launched following the death of a woman in north belfast. she has been named locally as caoimhe morgan. her body was found in a house in harcourt drive on saturday morning. a 30—year—old man arrested on suspicion of her murder and remains in custody. sport and time for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. let's start at the ashes, where england are facing defeat in the second test in adelaide after losing joe root in the final over on day four. australia declared their second innings on 230 for 9, setting england a massive 468 to win the test. at stumps, the tourists were 82 for four without their captain, and needing to bat out the final day to secure a draw. ben stokes is still there at three not out when play resumes. australia only need six wickets tomorrow to win the match and go 2—0 up in the series. we are not executing as well as we would like, however, i can tell you now, it is not for the lack of trying and hard work, and the guys have put in a real shift and we are trying to improve the players and get them better so we can compete to people in this series. the premier league meets tomorrow to discuss its decimated schedule due to covid, with just one match going ahead yesterday. there are three matches due to go ahead today — two of them at 2pm — chelsea looking to close the gap on the top two — manchester city and liverpool. they are at wolves — four points off top after struggling of late — and were frustrated by thursday's 1—1 draw with everton. but head coach thomas tuchel isn't concerned. we wa nt we want to have the proof of our performance in results stop it is easy to doubt, to be emotional, it is easy to let disappointment take over. we continue to put the effort in, we will get the output, there is no alternative than to give everything in, there is no guarantee for results. we will keep on pushing for results. we will keep on pushing for the maximum effort and for the maximum input. the later game will be tottenham's first since december 5th, as they were one of the first clubs to shut down their training ground because of covid cases this month. but they've returned to training, albeit with a depleted squad, they could be missing up to six players today. they take on liverpool today, who also have their own covid problems, with virgil van dijk one of those missing for them. dealing with all the disruption has been difficult for the spurs boss. to find the right energy when you are prepared to play a game and then the game is postponed, then to come back to another training session, prepare another game against liverpool and you don't know if you are able to play. surely, it is not simple. three games remain on in the women's super league. one of those is into the second half — manchester united are fifth in the league, and could jump into the top three with a win against aston villa. it's currently 2—0 to united. two more games get underway in just over half an hour. celtic could secure the first trophy of the ange postecoglou era in today's scottish league cup final — hibernian are their opponents at hampden park, led by interim manager david gray after the sacking ofjack ross ten days ago. celtic are the form team heading to hampden, having won 11 of their last 12 domestic matches. hibs previous league cup triumph came in 2007, covid has also wreaked havoc on most of this weekend's rugby fixtures. seven matches off because of french travel restrictions to the uk in response to the omicron variant. but some games have managed to go ahead. in the european champions cup, leicester against connacht with steve borthwick�*s side on a 12—game winning streak. it started at one o'clock. as you see, early try, leicester tigers leading 5—3. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more in the next hour. thank you and see you later. the winner of this year's strictly come dancing final was crowned last night. rose and giovanni! the eastenders star rose ayling—ellis has become the first deaf contestant to take home the glitterball trophy. rose and her partner giovanni pernice beat tv chef john whaite and johannes radebe in the final. tv presenter aj odudu was forced to drop out due to an injury. earlier, i spoke to former strictly professional dancer robin windsor who danced on the show with lisa riley and deborah meaden. he gave me his reaction to last night's show. we'd be hard pressed to find anybody that will say that this wasn't only the best final in strictly history, but the best series that strictly have ever put on. i think we finally got to a point where i didn't mind who won last night because for me, representation won, we obviously had same—sex male couple for the first time and the first ever deaf contestant. and i think having that representation was everything. and so that obviously was key for you in terms of making it, as you say, the best final, the best series. what about the standard of dancing? again, it trumped every year so far, and that's coming from me who's been on the show! it was the best series and the best standard of dancing that we've ever had. rose a very, very worthy winner. and i think it's been amazing for giovanni as well to actually show a side of him and to finally win that glitterball that he's been after now for about seven years. what do you think will be the impact of having the same sex couple and also the level of understanding that will roll out from rose being the first deaf winner? well, rose, for example, not only for deaf children around the country and around the world, but for deaf people everywhere, itjust goes to show and she's proved that you can do anything that you want to, even if you have some kind of difficulty in life and have something different that you can prove that you can do whatever. and for me personally, if i was a young boy or i wish when i was a young boy that i could see two men dancing together on television like that, it would have made my life an awful lot easier. so i know that whatjohn and johannes will have done was they made so many people across the uk and around the world know that it's ok. and there was a lot of apprehension about two men dancing together on the show. but as soon as they started, you see the representation week on week on primetime tv, it becomes normal. and all those haters at the beginning have all become lovers. i don't know if it was just me, but i thought i detected some emotion in your voice, actually, when you were saying that and talking about the, you know, it's a long time since obviously you were a little boy where something like that, as you say, would have made a difference. i mean, and i don't mean in terms of your age, butjust, you know, it's 2021. and this is a first that obviously has been talked about for some time. but now it's happened, as you say, it normalises it. yeah, there was a lot of resistance every time it was ever mentioned in the past. finally, it's here. finally, things are moving forward. and you're right, i get a little choked up about it, watching their dances last night, i was just in such admiration of what the two of them have done. and johannes, he looked like the entire series every time he looked like he was going to burst into tears of joy. and for me, that is really what it was all about. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. hello. it was a cold start to this morning, we had temperatures last night as low as minus 8.9 celsius in braemar in aberdeenshire. that made it the coldest night of the autumn and winter so far. now, through today, some sunshine. most places keeping rather a lot of cloud but mostly dry. still some mist and fog lingering all day for some central and eastern parts of england and eastern scotland. quite a lot of low cloud. it's further west that you will see some some holes in that cloud. so some sunshine for, north—west england and wales as well. sunny spells for northern ireland and parts of south—west england but further east feeling fairly chilly where you're trapped under that cloud all day. this evening and tonight, then, largely cloudy, mostly dry. the odd spot of drizzle coming out of that cloud at times for today and tonight. it won't be quite as cold as it was last night, still a bit of frost across parts of scotland in particular. one or two misty patches monday morning. another largely dry, cloudy day but more sunshine breaking through the cloud for central and eastern england where we haven't seen the sun for a few days. top temperatures around two to nine degrees. hello this is bbc news with joanna gosling. the headlines... in the uk, the health secretary says it is time to be cautious about social interactions, and refuses to rule out tighter covid restrictions before christmas, in response to the rapid spread of the omicron variant. there are no guarantees in this pandemic. i think at this point we have to keep everything under review. labour has called on the government to set out a clear plan for covid restrictions over christmas and into the new year.