in five staff in london to be out sick with covid on christmas day thanks to an omicron-fueled surge in new infections. government scientists say a new set of restrictions is needed fewer rather than later to avoid near peak levels of hospital admissions. but the government is still in wait and see mode because there are still question marks about the severity of illness omicron actually causes. the cautious british approach is in stark contrast to many mainland european governments which are facing protests over severe or new restrictions. friday night france closed its borders to british tourists even if they re vaccinated, and now germany has officially followed suit. we re here in europe. the covid situation is not making holiday celebrations easy for a second year in a row. the netherlands are locking down thanks to a spike in cases and hospitalizations. ireland just instituted another curfew on pubs and restaurants, and the u.k. is grab ppling wita