this is bbc news the headlines at seven. the uk covid alert level has been increased to level 4, meaning there's widespread pressure on health services — because of the rapid increase in omicron cases. the prime minister will make a televised address this evening it comes as the first people in the uk have been hospitalised with omicron. new cases of the variant are up 65 percent in the last 2a hours.. there is concern about the level of hospitalisations we might see but we just need to wait for a bit longer to really see how some of the other symptoms are people who catch this new variant her. symptoms are people who catch this new variant her. the political pressure mounts on borisjohnson — facing a possible rebellion from his mps over covid rules,

and fresh questions about christmas gatherings at downing street last year. we have an important vote coming up next week and he can't even discharge the basic functions of government. is the worst possible lead at the worst possible time. is the worst possible lead at the worst possible time. emergency teams continue the search for survivors in six us states, after tornadoes leave more than 90 people dead coming up in sportsday — last—lap drama in the grand prix decider — max verstappen wins — but lewis hamilton's team appeal against the outcome. and later this hour, click explores aland autonomous weaponry and the debate over whether they should be banned from the battlefield.

good evening. the uk's covid alert level has been increased from level 3 to level 4, at the recommendation of all four home nations�* chief medical officers. it follows the rapid spread of the new omicron variant of coronavirus, and is a warning that the nhs is coming under intense pressure. hospitals are already now treating their first patients infected with the omicron variant, amid predictions of a large wave of cases. ministers say the uk is in a race to get covid boosterjabs into as many eligible people, as quickly as possible. here's our health correspondent, jim reed. asa as a covid alert level is raised across the uk the message from the government is for more people to queue up for their boosterjabs. scientists say these and third doses are the single most important defence against omicron this winter. it is important to make

sure you are protected as best as you can. my wife is having hers done today. make sure we are protected as best as we can. from tomorrow, people in their 30s in england and scotland will be able to book their booster appointments as the roll—out continues down the age groups. other parts of the uk are likely to follow within days. it is really important, given what we are hearing and what we know now about the omicron variant and how effective the vaccine is, particularly after the booster dose, so it is an important measure for protecting themselves, theirfamily, friends and the public at large. government scientists are increasingly concerned about the speed the omicron variant can transmit and spread as it takes over from the older delta variant. we have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best and i think our job is to highlight that this is a big wave, it is coming straight at us. if we see even half the severity we saw with delta, we are facing a

very large number of hospitalisations and potential debts. this data is from covid test taken last wednesday. in yorkshire and humber it is thought 4% were caused by the new variant. in the east of england it was 13%. in london it is thought omicron already made up at least a third of all new infections, 3000 positive tests a day and rising. government scientists say it is inevitable these figures will rise across the country. it was confirmed today that hospitals have now seen their first patients with the omicron variant, although it is not yet clear how serious those cases are. this evening the covid alert level for the uk was increased to its second—highest level with a warning that the pressure on the nhs is likely to rise soon. yes, the nhs is already

beyond full stretch and that is before we have got to deal with the consequences of omicron. yes, it is concerning, but everybody on the nhs front line is doing absolutely the best they can as you would expect. the future of this pandemic, though, is more uncertain than it has been for 18 months. in south africa where omicron was first detected, there are early, tentative signs that infections in some parts of the country may be slowing down without a surge in hospitalisations. in the uk more rules are changing. from tuesday those who are fully vaccinated in england and are a contact of someone with covid can take a daily lateral flow test, rather than having to self isolate at home. ministers say extra testing and more boosterjabs like this are the best way to protect the whole country this christmas. we will get more from jim reed in a few moments. more from jim in a moment, but first the government's latest coronavirus figures for the uk, show there were 48,851; new infections recorded, in the latest 24—hour period. bringing the average to 51,497

new cases reported each day in the past 7 days 52 deaths were recorded, of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, the average number of people who died each day in the past seven days, was 119. on vaccinations, just over 23 million people, have received their third or booster jab. these are agreed by the four medical officers of the nations of the uk. today we moved up from three to four and that signifies that the virus rather than circulating generally they now say that transmission is high or rising exponentially. what does that mean? it is important to say we are not at level five. level

five would suggest the nhs is in imminent danger of being overrun. we be in that situation. between - be in that situation. between january and _ be in that situation. between january and february - be in that situation. between january and february that - be in that situation. between january and february that is l be in that situation. between - january and february that is where we were and that level five is important because you would imagine new lockdown restrictions would have to come in. we are not there yet. we got that address from the prime minister add 8pm tonight and we are told it is to do with an update to the bitter program. the bbc understands no new restrictions are likely to be brought in at the moment. also in scotland it is worth saying that the deputy first minister was also speaking to the bbc earlier and said no justification at the moment for measures like closing bars and restaurants ahead of christmas but he did say all options are the table so it is moving in a certain direction but it is too soon to say will have these restrictions brought in. g , ., , , will have these restrictions brought in. , ., , , ., in. just on the figures. there is a 6596 in. just on the figures. there is a 65% increase _ in. just on the figures. there is a 65% increase in _ in. just on the figures. there is a 65% increase in omicron - in. just on the figures. there is a 6596 increase in omicron cases i in. just on the figures. there is a i 6596 increase in omicron cases over 65% increase in omicron cases over 24—hour period leading to saturday

and then sunday, but does that mean the realfigures? 65% sounds terrifying. the realfigures? 6596 sounds terri inc. ~ the realfigures? 6596 sounds terrifying-— the realfigures? 6596 sounds terri inc. ~ ., ., ., , terrifying. we know that omicron is now increasingly _ terrifying. we know that omicron is now increasingly spread _ terrifying. we know that omicron is now increasingly spread very - terrifying. we know that omicron is | now increasingly spread very rapidly across the uk so every two or three days the number of people with omicron essentially doubles so what we had today was confirmed cases. up to a total of 3137. so another 1200 odd cases today.— to a total of 3137. so another 1200 - odd cases today._ that odd cases today. added the 6596. that has 'ust odd cases today. added the 6596. that has just confirmed _ odd cases today. added the 6596. that hasjust confirmed cases. _ odd cases today. added the 6596. that hasjust confirmed cases. there - hasjust confirmed cases. there could be cases _ hasjust confirmed cases. there could be cases data _ hasjust confirmed cases. there could be cases data have - hasjust confirmed cases. there could be cases data have to - hasjust confirmed cases. there l could be cases data have to test. hasjust confirmed cases. there . could be cases data have to test. it is fair to say the moment that the majority of cases are dealt but the thinking is that the delta will gradually be really quite rapidly outperformed, as it were, by omicron and will soon be in a situation where omicron becomes the dominant sort of variant. where omicron becomes the dominant sort of variant-— sort of variant. depend on the uk where you — sort of variant. depend on the uk where you live. _ sort of variant. depend on the uk where you live. we _ sort of variant. depend on the uk where you live. we have - sort of variant. depend on the uk where you live. we have had - sort of variant. depend on the uk| where you live. we have had some figures are from scotland today about cases they are looking at our omicron cases in parts of the

north—east of england, it is as low as 2%. in london it is much higher. a talking 35% and these figures were from last wednesday, so it takes awhile to sequence them so if you 35% last wednesday, it is doubling every two days, there is a good chance patches of london, omicron is the dominant variant. we chance patches of london, omicron is the dominant variant.— the dominant variant. we are told by exerts at the dominant variant. we are told by exoerts at the _ the dominant variant. we are told by experts at the nhs _ the dominant variant. we are told by experts at the nhs is _ the dominant variant. we are told by experts at the nhs is already - the dominant variant. we are told by experts at the nhs is already under. experts at the nhs is already under pressure but under pressure for a non—covert reasons as as for covid at the moment. it is the point about whether omicron becomes a threat to the health system because the level of infections is mad but more importantly because it causes more people to end up in hospital with serious illness. and that presumably is, the moment,. that serious illness. and that presumably is, the moment,.— is, the moment,. that is the key metric the _ is, the moment,. that is the key metric the government - is, the moment,. that is the key metric the government will - is, the moment,. that is the key metric the government will look| is, the moment,. that is the key i metric the government will look at. ministers were fairly comfortable, i would say about the certain level of delta infection because it was not showing that impact on hospitalisations. i was in newcastle

for two days and they were saying the booster rollout was having a huge impact on the number of people coming through. a month before they had, just in newcastle, 70 covid patients and were down to 35110. the worry now is just the level of omicron infections if it increases as people think it will. even if a tiny proportion end up in hospital, evenif tiny proportion end up in hospital, even if it is more mild, fingers crossed, you still end up with that pressure on the health service. pressure varies depending on which part of the world you're in. if you are in cornwall you have one general hospital, it is going to become much quicker than it might in london, for example. these are complications in deciding what restrictions might be necessary at some point in the future. ~ . . necessary at some point in the future. ~ ., ., ., , necessary at some point in the future. ., ., ., , . ., future. we are at a very uncertain stare future. we are at a very uncertain state in future. we are at a very uncertain stage in this _ future. we are at a very uncertain stage in this pandemic. _ future. we are at a very uncertain stage in this pandemic. if- future. we are at a very uncertain stage in this pandemic. if you - future. we are at a very uncertain | stage in this pandemic. if you look at what is going on in south africa there have been some reasonably, it is early data, but encouraging news

recently that in certain parts of south africa it appears the infections from omicron are starting to really slow down. without that huge increase in hospitalisations. the question is, is what they have seenin the question is, is what they have seen in south africa repeated here? it's a very different population, much younger. many more people in south africa who have been infected. south africa who have been infected. so we don't quite know if these might be more encouraging signs from south africa could be completed here. thank you so much for coming in and putting some more flesh on the bones for us. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says borisjohnson appears to have broken the law, when he took part in a christmas quiz at downing street last year. at the time coronavirus restrictions meant social mixing between households was banned. the sunday mirror has published a photo of the quiz, showing the prime minister seated next to two people. downing street has described the quiz as a "virtual" event. our political correspondent, chris mason, has more details. it is the christmas quiz a year ago that downing street says it was virtual, but where two

of the prime minister's colleagues are sitting next to him, one with tinsel wrapped around his neck, and a source tells the bbc others were there in person sitting in groups of six. this at a time when social mixing was banned in london. so, question one. was he breaking the law? it looks as though he was and he must have known those other groups were in other rooms in his own building. this is very important because he has damaged his authority. he is now so weak and his party is so divided they cannot deliver the leadership that this country needs. it is the worst possible leader at the worst possible time. no person may participate... what is the government was my explanation for this? what do you see? a prime minister in his office with two of his staff next to him and there are no drinks. my e—mail box is full of people thinking there are parties

with guests and all sorts of things and they can now make their mind up when they see this picture of the prime minister on a virtual screen, thanking his team who are in the building because they have to respond to a national emergency. then they can make their minds up. he did say it was right that the country's most senior civil servant is looking into three other get togethers, including a party at number ten a few days after the quiz. day after day the prime minister and his team have tried to brush off reports of a party or get—togethers around government, including in there, when social mixing was banned a year ago. yet this is the latest in a torrent of stories which rather suggest otherwise about what was actually going on and has left plenty of people incredibly angry. people i represent here in the highlands and islands followed that guidance to the letter of the law because they were told to do it in the national interest. if the people telling them to do that could not follow that guidance, we are right

to be angry at them. people's irritation with what happened in government a year ago collides with the reality of now, another winter where those who are leaders are shaping the rules and the collective response to a resurgence of the virus. chris mason, bbc news, westminster. a reminder that at 8pm the prime minister will be making a televised statement about the situation regarding the omicron variant. you can watch it here on bbc news. chris is here now. let's start with what we can expect from the prime minister. i appreciate we have not seen it yet but what is the reasoning behind him having a statement of this kind? the bi focus is having a statement of this kind? tia: big focus is cranking up substantially the booster program and the timing of getting jabs into arms. so an acceleration of government messaging for quite a

while now. the central plank of defence against the omicron variant as boosters and getting booster is rolled quickly. so the announcement this morning about it being extended to 30 somethings. on the government to 30 somethings. on the government to make sure they crank up the proportion of fortysomethings triple jab because that number is relatively low so i think the focus will be on that and i am told, and is worth emphasising this, what would it be in there. there will be on the announcement of new restrictions. we know that the prime minister has a persuasion job as far as its own backbenchers are concerned about an element of plan b restrictions for england, this idea covid passports, covid status certification. but i think i suspect i don't know because i'm yet to see this recording. i would have thought the inevitable question that plenty will want to ask the other side of the statement, which will be five or

six minutes long, quite a lengthy statement to camera from the prime minister, will be along the lines of, well, given the concern that we were hearing in the report a few moments ago from the chief medical officers and the statistics around omicron, the inevitable question to the leaders of the devolved governments will be, well, what does this mean around restrictions? does this mean around restrictions? does this mean around restrictions? does this mean there should be more of them? there will be others and we have heard this from conservative backbenchers, an alarm at the coming extension of restrictions in england. this is where the conversation will go on the other side of the statement and then anything that we here in the house of commons which i think is probably likely, tomorrow.— likely, tomorrow. presumably the s - eaker likely, tomorrow. presumably the speaker will— likely, tomorrow. presumably the speaker will expected _ likely, tomorrow. presumably the speaker will expected after - likely, tomorrow. presumably the speaker will expected after the i speaker will expected after the roasting is given government have their announcing policy in the media. the booster program extension programs in the paper this morning.

we have this formal announcement and it is the medical officers making the announcement. and he is at a point where, some as the newspapers report, some of the influence he has over the public may have been undermined by this ongoing controversy about what happened a year ago. controversy about what happened a ear aro. . , , year ago. that is definitely the olitical year ago. that is definitely the political context. _ year ago. that is definitely the political context. the - year ago. that is definitely the political context. the extent i year ago. that is definitely the | political context. the extent to which people will be willing to listen to any sort of message around behaviour. battle said, actually, if look at the opinion polls, the majority of people around the uk have been willing to embrace the necessary restrictions associated with trying to minimise the risk of the spread of the virus. irrespective of either the coming government or indeed the behaviour emerging out of government so while a good chunk of people including the conservative party, a mighty

irritated, whether that translates into a change in public behaviour or a change in a willingness to listen to other political leaders all the medical experts for whom they take your advice is an interesting broader question. but i think there is no doubt within government there's been a sense of spooked by some of these numbers coming from the sciences and yet a big criticism levelled at the prime minister was not acting quickly enough and in this instance it would appear, even though we're not going to get a change in restrictions on england coming in this announcement, it is clearly the prime minister seeking to speak to the real concern that we are hearing from scientists.- are hearing from scientists. thank ou ve are hearing from scientists. thank you very much- — thank you very much. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers — our guests tonight are the guardian's deputy political editor, jessica elgot, and martin bentham, who's home

affairs editor at the evening standard. the headlines on bbc news... the uk covid alert level has been increased to level 4, because of the rapid increase in omicron cases. the prime minister will make a televised address this evening meanwhile, boris johnson faces fresh questions about christmas gatherings at downing street a year ago — after a photo emerges of him taking part in a quiz. and a new formula one world champion — max verstappen takes the chequered flag ahead of lewis hamilton. mercedes have lost their appeal against max verstappen�*s victory at the abu dhabi grand prix, the fia has announced. the decision confirms the dutchman as formula one world champion.

the foreign secretary, liz truss, has warned russia in america, at least 94 people have died and dozens are missing, after the devastating wave of tornadoes, that hit southeast on friday. a desperate search for survivors is under way across six states, with emergency crews combing through the debris. our correspondent, nomia iqbal, has the very latest, from mayfield in kentucky: there were more than 30 tornadoes that ripped through six states, but one hurtled down a single track of more than 200 miles. it is thought to be the longest path ever taken by a tornado in us history. it flat in many homes, whilst leaving others untouched.

in an instant this small town of mayfield has been almost entirely wiped out. flattened homes are now buried in their own debris, toys and she was scattered amongst the twisted metal and shredded trees by a swarm of tornadoes that no one had prepared for. dini is looking for her cousin who lives downtown. everybody�*s cell phone is down and i got up early and i was so nervous i could not sleep. i could not get to her yesterday and i saw the school bus and everything over there is destroyed, it is just heartbreaking. minutes from the church a huge rescue operation is still under way to a candle factory. more than 100 workers were on christmas shifts when the tornado tore through. 40 people made it out. in the state of illinois another factory is looking for its missing employees. the tornado destroyed an amazon distribution factory. amazon founderjeff baze is pledged to offer support.

the governor here in kentucky says this is the deadliest tornado event the state has ever had. president biden has signed a federal emergency disaster declaration to help this state and others ravaged by the storms. the foreign secretary, liz truss, has warned russia will face �*massive consequences' and a �*severe cost�* if it were to invade ukraine. speaking at the g7 ministerial meeting in liverpool, ms truss said the uk, the united states and other allies are considering �*all options' if russia were to launch an incursion across the border, amid rising tensions in the region. a body has been found in a park in camberwell, south london, in connection to an investigation into the disappearance of nursing assistant petra srncova, the metropolitan police said.

the metropolitan police said officers were called by a member of the public to brunswick park in camberwell, south london, at around 11.aoam on sunday.a body was found and officers remain on scene at the location.the force is still awaiting formal identification, but said petra srncova's family have been informed.at this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained. an 11 year old girl has died, after being found unresponsive, in a building in east london, where a quantity of what's being described as �*chemicals' have been found. she died shortly after being taken to hospital. the condition of three other people also admitted for treatment, is unknown. police say the chemicals are believed to have been used for pest control, and other residents have been moved out as a precaution. more now on the uk's covid alert level being increased from level 3 to level 4 — in response to the rapid spread of the omicron variant of the virus. it comes as health officials say hospitals are now treating their first patients,

infected with the new omicron variant of coronavirus, amid predictions of a large wave of cases. professor clare bryant is professor of innate immunity at cambridge university and joins me now. we spoke a fortnight ago after and i very well remember the very kind of balanced assessment you are giving in what was then very limited information. cautioning people to be prepared but not to panic because at that stage you are still talking about in the mild infection in africa. how does it look now, two weeks on?— africa. how does it look now, two weeks on? ., , ., , weeks on? not good news, really. it is ve , weeks on? not good news, really. it is very. very — weeks on? not good news, really. it is very, very infectious, _ weeks on? not good news, really. it is very, very infectious, as _ weeks on? not good news, really. it is very, very infectious, as we - is very, very infectious, as we know. that is causing a lot of problems because the numbers of cases are shooting up very, very fast and this really is the challenge at the moment. we don't have enough information to be sure about how much disease this variant is going to cause and we have to be cautious until we get that information. we know that there is

some vaccine invasion as we were concerned there would be and we know that if we had three doses of a vaccine you would need to have good protection. that at least somewhat reassuring. bud protection. that at least somewhat reassurinr. �* ., , protection. that at least somewhat reassurinr. ., , ., reassuring. and for people to get their boosters. _ reassuring. and for people to get their boosters. they _ reassuring. and for people to get their boosters. they may - reassuring. and for people to get their boosters. they may not - reassuring. and for people to get. their boosters. they may not quite understand because it is counterintuitive about saying the bad news, either to doses and it is slipping past that or it seems to be, to certain extent, beginners, if you have a third dose you will be much better protected. but you have a third dose you will be much better protected.— much better protected. but it is because there _ much better protected. but it is because there are _ much better protected. but it is because there are two - much better protected. but it is i because there are two components much better protected. but it is - because there are two components to the vaccine protection. one of the antibodies and that is the bit that wanes after the second dose of the vaccine and you have the mutations in the virus so they mutations change the shape of the protein that the antibody was raised against in your body. which means the antibody binds less efficiently but counter

to that is that if you booster antibody levels in the body that will help because of though your antibodies bind less efficiently year if you've got more antibodies than the more virus you can still cling onto. than the more virus you can still cling onto-— than the more virus you can still clina onto. , ., .,, , cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective _ cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective so _ cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective so it _ cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective so it is _ cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective so it is a _ cling onto. those sorts of measures are still effective so it is a bit - are still effective so it is a bit like, and trying to think of a crude analogy, that game of fifa mole where you might be less efficient and hitting it but you're hitting it more frequently so there is a lot of average you are going to knock a lot of the virus out?— of the virus out? more or less, i ruess. of the virus out? more or less, i guess- forgive _ of the virus out? more or less, i guess. forgive me. _ of the virus out? more or less, i guess. forgive me. that - of the virus out? more or less, i guess. forgive me. that is - guess. forgive me. that is journalists, _ guess. forgive me. that is journalists, for _ guess. forgive me. that is journalists, for you. - guess. forgive me. that is. journalists, for you. looking guess. forgive me. that is - journalists, for you. looking ahead, what are the things you will be looking out for in the data over the coming weeks? the looking out for in the data over the coming weeks?— looking out for in the data over the cominu weeks? ~' , , ., , coming weeks? the key thing is, does this virus cause _ coming weeks? the key thing is, does this virus cause severe _ coming weeks? the key thing is, does this virus cause severe disease - coming weeks? the key thing is, does this virus cause severe disease or - this virus cause severe disease or not? that is absolutely critical. as even listening to the increased case

numbers even as the disease within their severe, numbers even as the disease within theirsevere, more numbers even as the disease within their severe, more cases, numbers even as the disease within theirsevere, more cases, more disease, that puts the nhs under pressure but, if we are really lucky and it's only my disease i think everybody would be debated and we need to understand how it behaves in unvaccinated people, vaccinated people, people who have been infected and of course across a different spectrum of people exposed to the virus so it is a complicated picture. to the virus so it is a complicated icture. . ., to the virus so it is a complicated icture. ., ~' ,, to the virus so it is a complicated icture. ., ,, i. ,., to the virus so it is a complicated icture. ., ,, i. . to the virus so it is a complicated icture. ., ,, . ., picture. thank you so much. good to seak to picture. thank you so much. good to speak to you — picture. thank you so much. good to speak to you again. _ picture. thank you so much. good to speak to you again. we'll _ picture. thank you so much. good to speak to you again. we'll have - picture. thank you so much. good to speak to you again. we'll have to - speak to you again. we'll have to make another appointment for a four night time. or will get christmas out of the way. have a good season. goodbye. hello. mild air has been pushing its way northwards across the uk through sunday. it's following on behind a weather front — this band of cloud you see here on the satellite picture. that is tied in with an area of low pressure that will get very close to the north—west

of the uk overnight tonight. so a very mild evening, increasingly breezy, very windy overnight for the western and norrthern isles of scotland — stormy conditions with widespread gales here. further showers for western scotland, clearer skies to the south of that. then underneath the weather front, a lot of cloud, obviously, and some rain for wales and the south—west, but very mild, temperatures in double figures here. overnight lows further north — seven, eight degrees. a frost—free start to the new week. through monday, quite cloudy across southern england and wales. some rain through the day possible for wales, the midlands, perhaps lincolnshire. the best of any sunshine for scotland, northern ireland and northern england. a little cooler here than it will be on sunday. temperatures return to average values.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines. the uk covid alert level has been increased to level 4, meaning there's widespread pressure on health services because of the rapid increase in omicron cases.

the prime minister will make a televised address this evening. it comes as the first people in the uk have been hospitalised with omicron. new cases of the variant are up 65% in the last 26 hours. there is concern inside the nhs about the level of hospitalisations that we might see but we really need to wait for a bit longer to really see exactly how severe the symptoms of people who catch this new variant are. the political pressure mounts on borisjohnson — facing a possible rebellion from his mps over covid rules, and fresh questions about christmas gatherings at downing street last year. he can't deliver the leadership that this country needs and we have got a very important vote coming up next week and he can't even discharge the basic functions of government. he is the worst possible leader at the worst possible time. emergency teams continue the search for survivors in six us states, after tornadoes leave more than 90 people dead. max verstappen is confirmed as the 2021 formula one world champion,

after stewards dismiss a protest by lewis hamilton's team