let us know on twitter using the hashtag bbcyourquestions. as the virus continues to spread, business groups ask for more government help as customers cancel bookings. schools says they are prepared to switch to online learning if they have to next term as more pupils stay at home because of covid. four children have died and five others are injured after falling from a bouncy castle that was blown into the air in australia. pulled away and pulled away with disdain. and, in the ashes, england under pressure as australia start well in the second test. think carefully before going to pubs and restaurants this christmas and don t mix with people you don t have to. that was the message from the prime minister and england s chief medical officer, as covid cases soar. borisjohnson and professor chris whitty made the warnings as the uk recorded more than 78,000 new infections yesterday the highest figure since the start of the pandemic. but the hospitality and entertainment in
the bank of england puts up interest rates for the first time in three years to 0.25%. five children are killed in australia after a bouncy castle was blown away in the wind. three more are critically ill in hospital. the rose effect more people are signing up to learn british sign language after seeing the star on strictly. and england struggle on the first day of the second ashes test in australia. coming up on the bbc news channel, mercedes drop their plans to appeal the outcome of the abu dhabi grand prix, after the controversial ending to the season cost lewis hamilton a record eighth title. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the uk s chief medical adviser has warned that the previous maximum daily number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could be exceeded. that was 4,500 seen injanuary. speaking to mp5, professor chris whitty said that the present wave of the omicron variant was likely to peak quite fast but that it could go down more q
businesses who need it in my immediate to make sure that that money gets to those businesses as quickly as possible. the omicron wave has prompted france to shut its borders to most british travellers from saturday halting christmas holidays and other news, the bank of england raises interest rates for the first time in more than three years amid warnings of inflation could hit 6% by april. and more people are signing up to learn sign language since the actress appeared on strictly come dancing who is deaf. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the number of new covid infections across the uk hasjumped again to a new record more than 88 thousand cases in the past 2a hours 10 thousand more than yesterday. as the omicron wave accelerates, the uk s chief medical adviser, professor chris whitty, told mps that he expects the peak to come incredibly fast but subside more quickly than previous variants because of the boosterjabs. more than 745,000 people had th