This is the Guardian.

Today, it's beginning to feel a lot like March 2020,

but with some crucial differences.

What will Omicron do to the UK?

Just as we were gearing up for a Christmas we hoped would be normal,

or as normal as it gets right now, it emerged.

There's growing international concern about a new variant of COVID which could be more transmissible

than previous strains and more resistant vaccines. The UK has suspended direct flights to

extremely transmissible, spreading easily despite vaccines, and able to infect those who have already

been sick. Omicron has appended hopes that for those who have been vaccinated, the era of lockdowns,

restrictions, cancelled dinners, parties might be over.

If it wasn't clear before, it is now we're not out of the pandemic yet.

Every day we're learning more about Omicron and seeing its impact in record new cases in London

and across the country. The UK Cabinet held an emergency meeting on Monday,

with people including the government's chief medical adviser Chris Whittie to consider new restrictions

and decided they weren't quite ready to make a decision yet.

In view of the balance of risks and uncertainties, we agreed that we should keep the data from now on

under constant review and unfortunately I must say to people we will have to reserve the

possibility of taking further action to protect the public.

While the government did this, a number 10 fight soft allegations of yet another gathering held

during lockdown, the virus spreads and hospitals brace for what's coming.

From the Guardian, I'm Michael Saafi. Today in focus, what the next few weeks the Omicron wave

...