0k, we're going to take you straight to colorado where a press conference is being held regarding those wildfires that have ripped through the state. we wildfires that have ripped through the state. ~ . , , . the state. we are fully expecting this to be 500 _ the state. we are fully expecting this to be 500 or _ the state. we are fully expecting this to be 500 or more _ the state. we are fully expecting this to be 500 or more homes i the state. we are fully expecting l this to be 500 or more homes that have _ this to be 500 or more homes that have been— this to be 500 or more homes that have been lost. the fire burnt in an interesting — have been lost. the fire burnt in an interesting dynamic with mosaics. you can_ interesting dynamic with mosaics. you can see — interesting dynamic with mosaics. you can see how the wind and topography drove the fire in certain directions. — topography drove the fire in certain directions, devastated some neighbourhoods and blocks and left some _ neighbourhoods and blocks and left some neighbours standing intact. i know— some neighbours standing intact. i know residents want to get back to their homes as soon as possible to assess— their homes as soon as possible to assess the — their homes as soon as possible to assess the damage. in many of those neighbourhoods that are currently blocked _ neighbourhoods that are currently blocked off, it's still too dangerous to return. we saw still active _ dangerous to return. we saw still active fire — dangerous to return. we saw still active fire in many places this morning — active fire in many places this morning and we saw downed power lines. _ morning and we saw downed power tines. a _ morning and we saw downed power tines. a iot— morning and we saw downed power lines, a lot of risks we're still to mitigate — lines, a lot of risks we're still to mitigate. as soon as residents are able to— mitigate. as soon as residents are able to get— mitigate. as soon as residents are able to get back, we are going to let them — able to get back, we are going to let them back. that's the goal. we don't _ let them back. that's the goal. we don't want — let them back. that's the goal. we don't want to keep them out of their neighbourhoods and homes. last night, _ neighbourhoods and homes. last night, there was an announcement for the city— night, there was an announcement for the city of— night, there was an announcement for the city of lewisville. now it extends _ the city of lewisville. now it extends to the town of superior. water _ extends to the town of superior. water pressure was lost in those communities, so water is potentially contaminated and it will need to be oiled contaminated and it will need to be oited in _ contaminated and it will need to be oiled in those areas, in the southern _ oiled in those areas, in the southern part of the county around lewisvitie — southern part of the county around lewisville and in superior. i want to stress— lewisville and in superior. i want to stress that all of the trailheads east of— to stress that all of the trailheads east of highway 93 and to the south are closed — east of highway 93 and to the south are closed. stay out of that area. we have — are closed. stay out of that area. we have power line issues and fire. we have power line issues and fire. we received — we have power line issues and fire. we received an outpouring from the community— we received an outpouring from the community to be volunteers and make donations _ community to be volunteers and make donations. we appreciate this but please _ donations. we appreciate this but please do — donations. we appreciate this but please do not self deployed to those areas _ please do not self deployed to those areas for— please do not self deployed to those areas. forthose please do not self deployed to those areas. for those who want to volunteer, _ areas. for those who want to volunteer, please visit colorado responds— volunteer, please visit colorado responds to all. if you want to make donations. _ responds to all. if you want to make donations, go to our website at troutder— donations, go to our website at boulder 0em.com, where there are details _ boulder 0em.com, where there are details on _ boulder 0em.com, where there are details on how to register and donate — details on how to register and donate. we have a community call centre _ donate. we have a community call centre established. it has information concerning the fire's impact _ information concerning the fire's impact on — information concerning the fire's impact on boulder county and can be reached _ impact on boulder county and can be reached at _ impact on boulder county and can be reached at 3034137730, 3034137730. aqain. _ reached at 3034137730, 3034137730. again, we _ reached at 3034137730, 3034137730. again, we ask if you have questions about— again, we ask if you have questions about the _ again, we ask if you have questions about the fire or neighbourhoods, road closures, please call the call centre _ road closures, please call the call centre do — road closures, please call the call centre. do not call 911. i'm going to turn— centre. do not call 911. i'm going to turn it — centre. do not call 911. i'm going to turn it over to the governor. thank— to turn it over to the governor. thank you. _ to turn it over to the governor. thank you, sheriff. a few moments ago we did an aerial reconnaissance mission thanks to the colorado national guard, of the areas impacted. we were able to do it in the brief window before the snow and how grateful we are that the snow has started. though there are some areas with active flames, mostly we were looking at the neighbourhood level devastation. as the sheriff indicated, those neighbourhoods, because of the nature of the fire spread by gusts up to 105 mph, it can spread to a house here or there, over other houses, past streets. very unusual burn pattern. the other unusual factor, very unusual burn pattern. the other unusualfactor, it's in the blink of an annoying. this is a disaster in motion —— in the blink of an eye. many families having minutes, minutes, to get wherever they they could, their pets, their kids, get in the car and leave. the last 24 hours have been devastating, it is unimaginable. it's hard to speak about. like many boulder county residents i have texts and voicemails from friends and letting me know whether they are safe, what they have lost. i spoke to the presidentjust before the press conference. the president called and offered support for the people of colorado. they also gave verbal authorisation, the president approved the exhilarated major disaster announcement which means those who suffer losses, citizens and homeowners, won't have to wait for the plymouth damage assessment for the plymouth damage assessment for housing and small business assistance. that will be forthcoming soon, because of the disaster and the actions the president took. he sends his regards to the people of colorado and those who are directly impacted. this hit close to home many of us. in many cases those of us who live nearby but also in terms of this being a fire that wasn't a wildfire in the forest. it was a suburban and urban fire. the costco we all shop at, the target where we buy our kids clothes, all surrounded and damaged. nearly1000 buy our kids clothes, all surrounded and damaged. nearly 1000 homes in two very tight—knit beautiful communities our state house, gone. we talk about houses destroyed, but each house is notjust a house. it's a home. it's a sanctuary of comfort for those who live there. it's a reservoir of memories, where families were raised. you know, it feels like we've experienced enough loss and tragedy over these last years and then yesterday happened over the course of several hours. this is our community and to watch it burn so quickly and unexpectedly is something i think we're alljust struggling believe and understand. so different to fires that developed over weeks and months. this played out with 105 mph wind over the course of half a day. we are going to work hard with families and small businesses to rebuild our treasured communities, homes and sanctuaries forfolks. the communities, homes and sanctuaries for folks. the short—term communities, homes and sanctuaries forfolks. the short—term impact, housing needs, so far it seems like the two major hospitals in the areas were spared, looks like schools were spared. and we might have our very own new year miracle on our hands if it holds up that there was no loss of life. we know many people had just minutes to evacuate and if that was successfully pulled off by the affected families, that's quite a testimony to preparedness and emergency response. i spoke to the fema administrator and let her know that with this disaster declaration we need all the help we can get. we talked about short—term housing needs, about additional need for hospital capacity. the hospital, while not destroyed, will be out of commission for a period of days and weeks. mr rogers once told his audience when i was a boy i would see scary things in the news and my mother would say to me, look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping. time and time again we see those helpers here in colorado. the sheriff, his deputies, the director, the national guard, hundreds of brave firefighters, municipal fire departments across the region, law—enforcement, first responders. many of these brave women and themselves lost homes or are uncertain whether they had homes to return to yet they stayed on the job and behalf of a grateful state of colorado we want to say a profound thank you to everyone. i'm going to say a few words in spanish. he speaks spanish. we going to say a few words in spanish. he speaks spanish.— going to say a few words in spanish. he speaks spanish. we are getting the latest on _ he speaks spanish. we are getting the latest on the _ he speaks spanish. we are getting the latest on the fires _ he speaks spanish. we are getting the latest on the fires that _ he speaks spanish. we are getting the latest on the fires that have - the latest on the fires that have been causing devastation through parts of colorado. specifically boulder county which is at the foothills of the rocky mountains, in northern colorado. we understand 1600 acres have been damaged and so far, no fertility is have been reported. although we heard an official saying that the intensity official saying that the intensity of the fire and its presence in such a heavily populated area, and urban fire is how it's been described, he said we wouldn't be surprised if there are injuries and fatalities. it's been driven primarily by the wind, up to 500 homes destroyed. people have been evacuated. water supplies have been compromised, power lines are down as well. it was a very unusual burn pattern too, this fire, leaving people with just minutes notice to leave. described as a mosaic dynamics, jumping from one spot to another. but so far, no casualties reported. resident biden offering his support, primarily financial support as well, for those who have been affected. more on that as an when we get it. new year celebrations have begun across the world. this is the how hong kong rang in the new year. four, three, two, one... cabin new year! —— happy new year. four, three, two, one... cabin new year! -- happy new year.— year! -- happy new year. joyous celebrations _ year! -- happy new year. joyous celebrations there. _ but in many places, they will be somewhat muted as governments try to discourage crowds coming together to celebrate 2022, in order to counter the spread of covid—19. here in the uk, the prime minister has urged people to take a covid test before going to any celebrations, but with restrictions varying between the different nations of the uk, it's feared revellers from scotland and wales will cross into england to celebrate. in the capital, the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has urged people to do tests before heading out tonight and to think tonight and to think "very, very carefully". it's really important, if you've not got a lateral flow test at home and you're not vaccinated, you think very, very carefully about whether you go out tonight. it's possible to get a lateral flow test today from local pharmacists, from libraries. i checked this morning. there were a lateral flow tests available in some local pharmacies where i live and also my local library was providing tests this morning. check, if you've not got a flow test, where you can get one, from your local pharmacy today before you go out. if you are going out, please do a lateral flow test before you go out because you may have the virus and not show symptoms. how would you feel if you went out and passed on the virus or you brought it home? when you come home, if not tonight and tomorrow, do another lateral flow test, because you may have caught the virus. it's really important we recognise this variant is spreading very, very fast and it's doubling at exponential rates. 0k, and for people at home watching the tv tonight, what can they expect? how can they enjoy their new year? can ijust say, tonight's live spectacular show will be the best ever. the only way to really appreciate it is by watching on bbc one. you'll have 13 minutes of brilliance. live performances, looking back at the defining moments of 2021. we're going to be showcasing some of the brilliant things happening in 2022. it's going to be brilliant. the mayo the mayor of london, sadiq khan. coronavirus infections in the uk has reached a new record high and pressure on hospitals continues to grow. covid—related absences in acute nhs trusts in england went up by more than 40% during christmas week. an average of more than 25,000 health workers were off sick or isolating each day. london was again the worst hit, with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent, up by nearly 60% on the week before. 0ur health correspondent anna collinson reports. while most of us are looking forward to celebrating this new year's eve, it's a different story for nhs workers, with winter pressures intensifying, made worse by staff sickness. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. staff absences are already leading to cancelled appointments and longer waiting times. now, new data shows more than 25,000 hospital staff in england were absent each day due to covid during the christmas week — a 42% increase on the previous seven days. at this time of year, we would normally expect around 5% of staff to be off sick, but this winter it's nearly double that and it's mainly down to covid. london has been the worst—hit, with some of the highest absences seen here at great 0rmond street hospital. in the week leading to christmas, new data by the office for national statistics suggests an estimated one in 15 people in london had covid, the highest in england. the uk also saw a new record high. scientists are warning there is real uncertainty about what the new year will bring. people currently who are very sadly dying of covid were probably infected on average something like 35 days ago, so, this was really before 0micron started to transmit. it's therefore too early to say what the impact of 0micron is going to be on the more severe end of the disease, and it's mostly been circulating in children, in people in contact with children, and it's now going to spread into older adults at much higher risk of severe disease. there are now calls for nhs workers to be prioritised for lateral flow tests to ease winter pressures. the government says the number of kits will triple by early next year after supply was recently described as patchy. some pharmacists for example didn't receive anything yesterday, so i have been asking around in terms of, like, if people have had their supply. some pharmacies received one box, some received two, but some received none. so, it's very patchy, it's inconsistent. if we are to meet the demand and follow the government guidelines, there's got to be better organisation around this. the key weapon aginst 0micron is the boosterjab and uk governments say all eligible adults have now been offered one. though there have been reports of up to 40% of no—shows at some vaccination sites. whether this will be enough to protect the nhs, its staff and patients in the new year, is still unsure. anna collinson, bbc news. let's speak to our health correspondentjim reed. there is a few points to go through. great to see you. let's start with the high level of infections. we've 'ust had the high level of infections. we've just had the _ the high level of infections. we've just had the latest _ the high level of infections. we've just had the latest daily _ the high level of infections. we've just had the latest daily figures i just had the latest daily figures for the uk and again it's showing about another hundred and 89,000 new cases. this is confirmed cases across the uk —— 189,000 cases. this is confirmed cases across the uk “189,000 new cases. there are different ways of measuring infections and you may not get that much information from the daily figure because there will be people, especially over christmas, who don't get tested. that's the number of confirmed tests. 0ther number of confirmed tests. other people have been infected and not realise it, asymptomatic infections, so today we had another set of data earlier on. this is a random sampling of the population carried out by the office for national statistics. that's seen as giving a more accurate picture and you get a sense of the scale of infections. within the uk as a whole or england as a whole, around one in 25 people had covid, this is last week, a big good—looking. wales, scotland and northern ireland, lower, about one in 40. the chief of the 0ns says that using up—to—date data they think it is higher. in london, this is the highest levels we've ever had, one in 11 people had covid last week, rising to one in six people in their late 20s. you can see the scale of the 0micron infections. the question is whether we're going to see that reflected with a big increase in hospitalisations? it has gone up recently but not to the level you'd expect given the level of infection. so it looks like it is less severe than previous variants of the disease. you less severe than previous variants of the disease.— of the disease. you describe the infections we _ of the disease. you describe the infections we are _ of the disease. you describe the infections we are starting - of the disease. you describe the infections we are starting to - of the disease. you describe the infections we are starting to seej now possibly relating to get—togethers over christmas time. what about new year's eve? people are going to get together today. when are we likely to see that play out in the new year? ads, when are we likely to see that play out in the new year?— when are we likely to see that play out in the new year? a good rule of thumb is that _ out in the new year? a good rule of thumb is that it — out in the new year? a good rule of thumb is that it generally _ out in the new year? a good rule of thumb is that it generally takes - thumb is that it generally takes around ten days from an infection to when you see it coming up in the hospitalfigures. we heard in the report, it takes about a month until you start to see, sadly and brutally, in the death figures. there is a lag. we are starting to see probably now in the infection figures and test figures people who would have been infected over christmas. in this wave in the uk of 0micron, up to christmas most of the infections were taking place in the younger groups. not really school age children, but people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. 0ver age children, but people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. over the cosmos period you noticed it creeping into the older age groups, as we've seen in previous waves of the virus. that's when you get a lot more worried because they are the groups that are more likely to end up in hospital as a result. we should get ideas soon about how well those booster doses in particular are stopping notjust infections but severe disease and that's going to be crucial. ., ., .,, , ., , be crucial. you mentioned hospitals. hositals be crucial. you mentioned hospitals. hospitals are — be crucial. you mentioned hospitals. hospitals are also _ be crucial. you mentioned hospitals. hospitals are also under _ be crucial. you mentioned hospitals. hospitals are also under pressure. . hospitals are also under pressure. we arejust reporting hospitals are also under pressure. we are just reporting there about increasing absences especially in acute trusts of the nhs. is that likely to continue? 50. acute trusts of the nhs. is that likely to continue?— acute trusts of the nhs. is that likely to continue? so, acute trusts are the big — likely to continue? so, acute trusts are the big hospital— likely to continue? so, acute trusts are the big hospital trusts - likely to continue? so, acute trusts are the big hospital trusts and - are the big hospital trusts and actually what you've seen over the last week—and—a—half is hospital bossesin last week—and—a—half is hospital bosses in the uk saying that they think a bigger disruption for them could be staff absences compared to actually the impact of the virus itself and people coming in because you've got such high levels of infection across the community, you're going to notice more doctors and nurses and ambulance drivers and paramedics being off work. to given example of one hospital in london, great 0rmond street is perhaps the most famous children's hospital in london and everyday on average last week they had 383 staff absent because of covid. not necessarily sick but because of self isolation rules, orsomeone sick but because of self isolation rules, or someone was isolating in theirfamily and rules, or someone was isolating in their family and they had to stay at home. the figure was up 43% in a week. about 8% of staff were of because of absences and this is the problem going forward. it may not just affect hospital and health care staff, it might affect social care staff, it might affect social care staff, those looking after vulnerable people in care homes, people working in other important sectors like the police and fire service. it's a reason why there's been pressure to change some of the self isolation rules. in england and other parts of the uk they've said rather than ten days isolation you can reduce it to seven if you test at the end of that period. in the us it has been reduced for some people down to five. media coverage has suggested it maybe reduced further in the uk as well.— the uk's medicines regulator has approved a new antiviral pill for covid. the drug company pfizer claims that when taken by high risk patients with mild to moderate symptoms, paxlovid reduces hospitalizations and deaths by 89%. the two active substances of paxlovid come as separate tablets that are packaged and taken together, twice a day by mouth for five days. authorities in china are attempting to stick to a zero coronavirus strategy ahead of its lunar new year celebrations and the beijing winter olympics. the country's vice premier has visited the northern city of xi'an, where13 million people have been confined to their homes in one of the country's strictest lockdowns since the pandemic began. these images are from inside xi'an. sun chunlan told officials there to speed up testing and do more to isolate the close contacts of those found to be positive. more than 1,200 cases have been found in the city in the past few weeks. dr xi chen from yale university is an expert on health policy and explained why china is continuing to pursue a strategic of zero covid. china has been maintaining the zero tolerance policy for a long time, almost two years, so basically it's ramping up mass testing, frequent contact tracing, quarantining and strict border control. and although the case numbers are low, china has been worried about the west opening up, it will crowd out and make the system very stressful and there is a larger concern about the aging population and underlying chronic conditions. and it's of higher stakes now, with the higher transmissibility of the delta and 0micron, but they're worried that if they open up, especially before the spring festival and before the major event, the winter olympics, things may get worse, quite much. so that's why the stakes are higher but they still think it is of their interest at least for the next few months to keep the virus at bay. the number of teenagers murdered in the capital has reached a new yearly high, with 30 killed this year. a 15—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager was found with stab injuries in croydon in south london. it was the second stabbing within an hour after a 16—year—old boy was stabbed in hillingdon in west london. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has given his reaction to the news. heartbreaking. two children, and they are children, have lost their lives prematurely because of knife crime. it's not a consolation to their families and friends, the fact we have made good progress in relation to youth violence going down, knife crime involving young people going down, knife crime going down over the last four years, because what we are seeing, although there are fewer people being stabbed, there are fewer young people going to hospitals, the consequences are far more serious. what we are seeing when i speak to those who work in trauma centres, those who work in a&es, is evidence of increased ferocity of the stabbings, the ferociousness is what is leading to teenage homicides going up. we are going to continue work incredibly hard to support young people, to support communities by investing in these communities, at the same time as investing in our police, to suppress violence at its source. that was the mayor of london sadiq khan. good afternoon. sunday's premier league match between southampton and newcastle at st mary's has been postponed due to ongoing covid cases and injuries in the newcastle squad. eddie howe's men drew 1—1 with manchester united last monday, but did not have the required number of players available for yesterday's scheduled game with everton. and that's still the case, forcing sunday's game to be called off. chelsea's match with liverpool on sunday is one of eight games still on over the next three days, butjurgen klopp is expecting to lose three players who are waiting for pcr results, which he fears will be positive. he's worried things could get worse between now and sunday afternoon. it has felt like a lottery in the morning, when you stand there and wait for the result. it was pretty much day by day, always one case, and today another one. we have got to wait. the boys are not even in yet so we have to wait, but in this moment, probably not, but we don't know how we will look in a few hours. chelsea manager thomas tuchel has responded to striker romelu lukaku's comments in an interview in which he said he was "not happy" with his situation at chelsea. it's understood the striker spoke three weeks ago, but it's not gone down well with his boss. i don't like it, of course, because it brings noise that we don't need and is not helpful but on the other side we don't want to make more out of it and it actually is. you know very well how it is, it is very easy to take lines out of context. it is very easy to shorten lines, make headlines, and then later realise that it's not so bad and may not be what he meant. but let's be honest, we don't like it, i don't like it, because it is a noise that we don't need. we need a calm environment and focus and it doesn't help. manchester city defender joao cancelo says he suffered cuts to the face after attempting to fight off a gang of robbers at his home. cancelo posted an image of his injuries on instagram, claiming "four cowards" took all his jewellery and left him with a facial injury. in a club statement, manchester city said... he will be part of the squad for city's game against arsenal on new year's day. former england all—rounder adam hollioake has been drafted into england's coaching team for the fourth test, which starts in sydney on tuesday evening uk time. england are without four coaches who are isolating, including head coach chris silverwood. australia batter travis head has tested positive for covid and will miss the test. he'll remain in melbourne and isolate for seven days in line with health requirements. head is australia's leading run—scorer in the series, with 248 runs at an average of 62. there are doubts about whether cricket's big bash league in australia can continue following multiple positive covid cases. today's game between adelaide strikers and sydney thunder did go ahead despite four thunder players testing positive. thunder made 187—3 after winning the toss and batting. the strikers were never really in the hunt and eventually lost by 22 runs. away from that match, seven players and eight support staff at the melbourne stars have tested positive, putting their next match onjanuary 2nd in serious doubt. we'll have more sport for you later on the bbc news channel. hello, and welcome to this review of the year in film. i'm mark kermode, and i'm here at the beautiful cinema museum in south london, where i'll be rounding up the highs and lows of 2021.