sporting events also taking a hit. english fans disappointed as the premier league match became the 10th premier league fixture postponeed this weekend due to covid. later saturday, anti-vaxers marched in london, france, germany and italy. the nelter lands announcing a strict lockdown starting sunday, also met by protests. as the world health organization announces omicron cases doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in countries with transmissions. the battle against covid rages on. and in england, the head of the health service expects that by christmas day one in five health staff in london will be out sick with the virus. now, the british government s own scientists say that new restrictions need to come sooner rather than later to avoid near peak levels of hospitalizations. the government for its part is on the fence. they re in wait and see mode,