the people in hospital effective. the people in hospital are primarily the unvaccinated, which suggests that the vaccination is conferring some benefit, so i think people are confident it is going to confer some benefit. the question as to what extent is it going to be undermined compared to what we have at the moment? susan mickie, thank — what we have at the moment? susan mickie, thank you _ what we have at the moment? susan mickie, thank you very _ what we have at the moment? susan mickie, thank you very much - what we have at the moment? susan mickie, thank you very much indeed. you have been watching a bbc news special. returning travellers must take a pcr test, rules on masks will be tightened in england, and anybody coming in contact with a case of omicron must be isolated. this will slow down the _ omicron must be isolated. this will slow down the spread _ omicron must be isolated. this will slow down the spread of _ omicron must be isolated. this will slow down the spread of the - omicron must be isolated. this will slow down the spread of the new i slow down the spread of the new variant and maximise our defences. to the new rules will be reviewed in three weeks. also on the programme, three weeks. also on the programme, three people die as storm arwen hits the uk with winds of up to 100 mph.

and the family and friends of one of those who died in the channel when their small boat capsized tells the bbc she was kind—hearted and humble. the spread of the new omicron variant of coronavirus. it follows the discovery of two cases in the uk, in essex and nottingham. anyone now arriving from abroad will have to take a pcr test, and all contacts of those who test positive for the new variant must self—isolate, regardless of whether they've been vaccinated. mask—wearing in shops and public transport will now become compulsory in england, in line with the rest of the uk. the prime minister says the new variant might "in part reduce the effectiveness of vaccines over time," but scientists

were learning more about omicron "hour by hour," and he said it's now more vital than ever that people getjabbed and receive boosters. with the very latest, here's our political correspondent, jonathan blake. the omicron variant, the most mutated version of coronavirus found so far, first reported in south africa on wednesday. now two cases have been detected in the uk. at a news conference in downing street this evening, the prime minister said much of a still unknown, but scientists were learning more about omicron hour by hour. it scientists were learning more about omicron hour by hour.— scientists were learning more about omicron hour by hour. it does appear that omicron — omicron hour by hour. it does appear that omicron spreads _ omicron hour by hour. it does appear that omicron spreads very _ omicron hour by hour. it does appear that omicron spreads very rapidly - that omicron spreads very rapidly and can— that omicron spreads very rapidly and can be — that omicron spreads very rapidly and can be spread _ that omicron spreads very rapidly and can be spread between- that omicron spreads very rapidlyl and can be spread between people that omicron spreads very rapidly- and can be spread between people who are double _ and can be spread between people who are double vaccinated. _ and can be spread between people who are double vaccinated. there _ and can be spread between people who are double vaccinated. there is- and can be spread between people who are double vaccinated. there is also. are double vaccinated. there is also are double vaccinated. there is also a very— are double vaccinated. there is also a very extensive _ are double vaccinated. there is also a very extensive mutation _ are double vaccinated. there is also a very extensive mutation which - a very extensive mutation which means_ a very extensive mutation which means it — a very extensive mutation which means it diverges— a very extensive mutation which means it diverges quite - means it diverges quite significantly— means it diverges quite significantly from - means it diverges quite i significantly from previous configurations _ significantly from previous configurations of- significantly from previous configurations of the - significantly from previous configurations of the virus| significantly from previous - configurations of the virus and, as

a result, _ configurations of the virus and, as a result, it — configurations of the virus and, as a result, it might— configurations of the virus and, as a result, it might at— configurations of the virus and, as a result, it might at least- configurations of the virus and, as a result, it might at least in- configurations of the virus and, as a result, it might at least in part i a result, it might at least in part reduce _ a result, it might at least in part reduce the — a result, it might at least in part reduce the protection _ a result, it might at least in part reduce the protection of - a result, it might at least in part reduce the protection of our - reduce the protection of our vaccines_ reduce the protection of our vaccines over— reduce the protection of our vaccines over time. - reduce the protection of our vaccines over time.- reduce the protection of our vaccines over time. ., , ., ., vaccines over time. people would not be sto ed vaccines over time. people would not be stepped from _ vaccines over time. people would not be stopped from travelling, - vaccines over time. people would not be stopped from travelling, the - be stopped from travelling, the prime minister said, although all those arriving in the uk will now need to take a pcr test and isolate until they receive a negative result. rules will be tightened on face coverings in england, boris johnson said. masks are already mandatory in certain settings in wales and scotland and northern ireland and there is a significant change in the rules around self isolation. we change in the rules around self isolation. ~ ., isolation. we will require all contacts of _ isolation. we will require all contacts of those _ isolation. we will require all contacts of those who - isolation. we will require all contacts of those who test l isolation. we will require all - contacts of those who test positive with a _ contacts of those who test positive with a suspected _ contacts of those who test positive with a suspected of _ contacts of those who test positive with a suspected of omicron - contacts of those who test positive with a suspected of omicron to - contacts of those who test positivel with a suspected of omicron to self isolate _ with a suspected of omicron to self isolate for— with a suspected of omicron to self isolate for ten _ with a suspected of omicron to self isolate for ten days, _ with a suspected of omicron to self isolate for ten days, regardless - with a suspected of omicron to self isolate for ten days, regardless of. isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccination _ isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccination status. _ isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccination status. it- isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccination status. [it is - your vaccination status. it is likely more _ your vaccination status. it is likely more adults _ your vaccination status. it is likely more adults will - your vaccination status. likely more adults will be your vaccination status— likely more adults will be offered boosterjabs likely more adults will be offered booster jabs and likely more adults will be offered boosterjabs and advisors will look again at vaccinating children, but scientists are largely in the dark so far about how quickly the new variant may spread. that so far about how quickly the new variant may spread.— so far about how quickly the new variant may spread. at the moment,

i'm afraid variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the _ variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the models _ variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the models are _ variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the models are more - variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the models are more if- variant may spread. at the moment, i'm afraid the models are more if it i i'm afraid the models are more if it spreads very fast, of course it's going to spread very fast and going to lots of places and if it spreads less first, it will do less, we can't really get much further than that. , . . , , can't really get much further than that. , , , ., can't really get much further than that. , , ., , that. rising cases have prompted other european _ that. rising cases have prompted other european countries - that. rising cases have prompted other european countries to - other european countries to reintroduce restrictions. here, the government has consistently said it has no plans for another lockdown but the option is never ruled out. the prime minister said this christmas would be better than the last, but with a rise in cases and much unknown about omicron, there are still uncertain times ahead. jonathan blake, bbc news. our health correspondent, katharine da costa is here with me. i suspect many people will be wondering why they now have do self isolate if they come into someone who is diagnosed as having the omicron variant, even if they are fully vaccinated.— omicron variant, even if they are fully vaccinated. yes, that's right. the prime — fully vaccinated. yes, that's right. the prime minister _ fully vaccinated. yes, that's right. the prime minister said _ fully vaccinated. yes, that's right. the prime minister said that - fully vaccinated. yes, that's right. i the prime minister said that while the current measures were enough to hold delta, he said with omicron, it spreads more rapidly and you were at

more risk of reinfection even if you have been double jabbed. some of these measures have been brought in because we have seen with alpha and delta, variants are very hard to contain. omicron has already been confirmed in six countries and the chances are we will see more reported in the coming days and weeks. and ministers hope that these tactics will help provide some time for scientists to do research in their labs and gather real—world data about how this variant works. and while it looks worrying, leading scientists have said the current vaccine still offer very good protection from serious disease from other variants and they are optimistic they will still be effective against omicron, but, while we wait for answers, countries are being asked to increase surveillance and sequencing and scientists say it is better to act early, to take precautions and try and get as many people as possible to take up their vaccines and their

boosters. ~ ., , to take up their vaccines and their boosters. n, , ., as part of the new restrictions outlined today, four more countries have been added to the government's red travel list, meaning all arrivals into the uk will have to quarantine in a hotel for ten days. malawi, mozambique and zambia are the countries affected, angola, malawi, mozambique and zambia are the countries affected, bringing the total to ten now on the red list. let's talk to our business correspondent, caroline davies. things were beginning to ease up for businesses, for the airlines in particular. this is going to be a blow. , , ., particular. this is going to be a blow. , , . .,. blow. yes, it is and in fact, international _ blow. yes, it is and in fact, international travel - blow. yes, it is and in fact, international travel is - blow. yes, it is and in fact, | international travel is going blow. yes, it is and in fact, - international travel is going into the opposite direction to the way the opposite direction to the way the industry really wanted to go. as we heard, the red list has been extended by an additional four countries at a stroke and it will come in from 4am tomorrow morning, so really very quick. we also know there are changes to pcr tests, they will be brought back in again from next week, even if you are fully vaccinated and you are coming into

the uk, you will be required to take a pcr test and now you will be required to self isolate until you get a negative result as well, so thatis get a negative result as well, so that is also a change. pcr tests were in fact only phased out at the end of last month, so very recently. the advantage of those as you can use them to identify new variants but they were considered to be too expensive and as they were no variants of concern, they weren't necessary at the time. obviously that has changed and the government has reintroduce them to keep a very close eye on to what is coming into the country at the moment. this is nowhere near the level of restrictions we have seen even earlier this summer but the concern is of course, for the travel industry and for other people wanting to travel later this year or potentially next year, things could get widened out again. at the moment, there is no suggestion that is happening but that will be down to what is found out about this variant and where else it is located. ., ., ., ,, , ., and our political correspondent iain watson is in downing street.

clearly rising alarm within government about this new variant. absolutely, clive and let's be clear about this, this is a moment the prime minister wanted to avoid, the first reimposing of restrictions in england since the great unlocking in the summer, bringing to some extent england into line with the other nations of the uk. i think what was interesting about what the prime minister said, when i asked him, look, is thisjust minister said, when i asked him, look, is this just the beginning minister said, when i asked him, look, is thisjust the beginning of new restrictions? he said they are temporary, restrictions will be reviewed in three weeks' time but he did not say that restrictions would necessarily be wound down after three weeks, there is still the possibility they could go up and i think we are very much in the hands of the virus and what the scientists find out about the virus. he did tell us of course that this christmas would be better than last but that is setting a pretty low bar, so some people's fears that more restrictions could be coming our way have not yet been dissipated. also on the question of self isolation, self isolation has

been imposed even if you have two jabs if you come into contact with someone suspected of having the omicron variant and labour are saying to the prime minister there are concerns about whether people will self isolate unless is increased, so some big concerns for the government but this is a significant moment because we are starting to see a slight slide back at this stage, the government targeted restrictions better slight slide back to restrictions we were all hoping to see the beginning of the end of the pandemic.- all hoping to see the beginning of the end of the pandemic. thank you, iain, in the end of the pandemic. thank you, lain. in downing _ the end of the pandemic. thank you, iain, in downing street. _ the latest government coronavirus figures show there were 39,567 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. that is mostly the delta variant. on average, there were nearly a4,000 new cases reported per day in the last week. 131 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week,

123 covid—related deaths were recorded every day. and on vaccinations, more than 17 million people have now had their booster injection. three people have died as storm arwen hit parts of the uk, bringing high winds, rain and snow. there's been damage across scotland, northern england, the midlands and wales, with winds of nearly 100mph, leaving more than 100,000 homes without power. there are more weather warnings across the uk for this evening. here's andy gill. storm arwen has left much of the country facing disruption and damage. there have been some near misses, road and rail travel has been badly affected and tens of thousands of homes left without power. the storm brought picture postcard scenery to the north yorkshire village of low row, but it's also disrupting life, especially for the vulnerable. patricia is 86. she lives alone and has difficulty walking. her power�*s been off since

half past ten last night. it's cold, very cold. now, i've got some... somebody brought me a hot water bottle to put on my knees. and i've got two jumpers on. winds of more than 90 miles an hour battered the north—east coast of scotland and trains were cancelled across the uk. it's a fluid situation. we're going to try and keep people moving wherever we can. but in many parts of the country we are encouraging people not to travel at all and certainly to check on the websites, on the apps, and for live information before they do set off. on one train in the north of scotland, passengers were stranded overnight. well, i got on the train at elgin just at the back of 3pm yesterday afternoon and about five o'clock, we hit huntley and stayed there for about 17 hours. on a farm near st asaph in north wales, a shed roof blew off, damaging cars. the met office has issued a yellow

warning for icy conditions on sunday across much of scotland, northern england and the midlands. andy gill, bbc news, north yorkshire. as officials in france work to identify the 27 people who died in the channel this week when their small boat capsized, the bbc has been hearing from the family and friends of one of victims. of one of the victims. maryam nuri mohamed amin was a 24—year—old kurdish woman, from northern iraq. she was trying to reach the uk to be with her partner. lucy williamson has more details. she left to start a new life with her fiance. a video from her engagement party less than a year ago still stored on her relatives' phones. maryam nuri mohamed amin tried several times to get a visa tojoin her partner in the uk, before deciding to surprise him by trying to get there another way. she was messaging him when the boat began to lose air. in erbil, in northern iraq,

the family's anger showed through their grief. her mother and sister inconsolable. translation: going to britain is very difficult. l she tried to get to britain legally twice. she went to the british embassy, but the process was delayed. she was forced to go the way she did. her friend eman left to absorb the news of her death. her humanity was so good, always advising me. and she was like someone i look... look up to for advice. so no one should try this. no one. no one deserves to die this way. but this disaster has changed little in the minds of people living in migrant camps here. they're just waiting for the right weather conditions to make the same journey, take the same risks. there's been a lot of finger—pointing across the channel over who's to blame for the growing crisis.

european interior ministers are due to meet here tomorrow to discuss the problem. but the british home secretary has been disinvited in the middle of a diplomatic feud between the prime minister, borisjohnson, and the french president, emmanuel macron. investigations have begun to identify the other victims, but questions are also being asked about why help never arrived and more broadly, ahead of tomorrow's meeting, why, after all the diplomacy, all the deterrents, lives are still being risked and lost in a narrow stretch of sea. lucy williamson, bbc news, calais. police hunting the killer of 12—year—old ava white say they want a van driver who may have witnessed something "vital" to come forward. the silver enterprise van was in central liverpool on thursday evening. merseyside police say the occupants of the vehicle are in no way suspected of involvement in the schoolgirl�*s death —

and they continue to question four boys arrested on suspicion of murder. there have been numerous tributes from across the world of musical theatre to the composer and lyricist stephen sondheim, who's died at the age of 91. he wrote the lyrics for west side story and the scores for many of the 20th century's most successful musicals, including a little night music and sweeney todd. stephen sondheim, described as a genius of musical theatre, who's died at the age, of 91. england's women footballers maintained their winning run in qualification for the 2023 world cup. they beat austria 1—0, with ellen white scoring the only goal on her 100th international appearance. here's joe lynskey. the next women's world cup is in australia and new zealand. to get there, england go

through sunderland in a storm. so torrential was the weather, the local trains said not to travel,