this is bbc news. the headlines at 7pm. the figures suggest omicron could be the dominant variant in the uk by the middle of this month. a senior cabinet minister says the situation has become seriously worrying. brute situation has become seriously wor inc. ~ situation has become seriously wor in. ~ ., , situation has become seriously wor inc. ., , _ worrying. we face a very deeply concerning _ worrying. we face a very deeply concerning situation. _ worrying. we face a very deeply concerning situation. we - worrying. we face a very deeply concerning situation. we know. worrying. we face a very deeply l concerning situation. we know we have the highest number of covid reflections across the united kingdom recorded today since the 9th of january, kingdom recorded today since the 9th ofjanuary, we know that kingdom recorded today since the 9th of january, we know that the omicron variant is doubling every two to three days in england and possibly even faster in scotland. the three days in england and possibly even faster in scotland.— even faster in scotland. the first minister in _ even faster in scotland. the first minister in scotland _ even faster in scotland. the first minister in scotland nicola - even faster in scotland. the first. minister in scotland nicola sturgeon bronze of a tsunami of omicron cases and cautions against people holding christmas parties. and failures by the metropolitan police were responsible in part for the deaths of three people who were murdered by the serial killer stephen port, an