hello and welcome to bbc news — i'll bring you all the latest headlines when we're joined by viewers on bbc one in just a few minutes but before that our top story this lunchtime: 1.74 million people in the uk had coronavirus on 19 december, according to a survey by the office for national statistics. that's up by more than 400,000 people on the figure three days earlier. this equates to one in 35 people or 2.7% of the population of the united kingdom. it comes amid news of "a glimmer of christmas hope" from the uk health security agency's drjenny harries who says new cononavirus data suggests that the omicron variant may be less likely to lead to serious illness than the delta variant.

but dr harries cautions that more information is needed, particularly about the impact on elderly and more vulnerable patients. 200,000 first, second or booster appointments are being made available over the festive period across england as people are urged to getjabbed, as omicron continues to spread rapidly across the country. earlier i spoke to the university of cambridge�*s professor ravi gupta about the latest covid data. he told me what he believes is behind the high infections. i think that of course the number of infections is remarkably high and it is probably due to the virus being highly infectious and replicating really well in the upper airways and the nose and that is why it is spreading so quickly. we think it has taken a potential hit in other parts of its profile and it may be less prone to infecting the lower airways

and causing severe lung disease so although the numbers of cases is incredibly high it may not translate into more severe disease, as we were discussing earlier, because of this change in biology, but also potentially because of more underlying immunity. that has to be taken into account when we think what we are going to do about it because of course we are hoping for a relatively let's say positive profile in terms of the numbers of deaths attributable to omicron and at the moment the signs are positive. on the other hand disruption to services and pressure on hospitals and medical services needs to be taken into account and those are the things that may tip things into further restrictions, although again we have reason to be optimistic at the moment. we have seen peaks in south africa and falls in infection rates in recent days. we are also seeing a couple of antiviral drugs coming to the market certainly in the united states which can

tackle some of the symptoms once you know you have got covid. at what point do we say we have to live with this? we have to try to get back to normal. we cannot keep having these lockdowns which we know are damaging to mental health, they stop people socialising, which is hugely important to people's health, they stop people going to work, which is economically damaging for the country. there are probably going to be other variants from other parts of the world particularly in those places that have not seen vaccine roll—out. when are we going to get back to normal? people are tiring of this. that is the question and i am not going to be able to answer it. what i can say is that we have antiviral drugs. we will have to see how well deployed they are and how well used they are. you need to take them early in the disease process and of course there is the threat of resistance if we do not use them in the right

way although we have data to inform how we are going to use them optimally. yes, we probably cannot go on like this forever, and that is why i think appropriate use of restrictions is really important, and that is why i support on a personal level the current state of restrictions because in my mind there could be another variant coming next year that is more virulent, more pathogenic and harder to control with vaccines, and we may need to bring those restrictions in the future for a variant that does cause more illness and death. so i think we need to be careful. we need to use science and use the understanding we have, invest more in understanding the biology of this virus, because we can see from omicron that is very different to variants we have seen before. if we do that we can learn to live

with the virus by having appropriate measures when needed.

there's a glimmer of christmas hope on omicron, according to the head of the uk health security agency. in england, some vaccination centres will stay open throughout christmas, with a warning that the variant remains a very serious threat. it's onlyjust now that the cases are starting to tip into the older population, particularly the 60 and 70—plus—year—olds, and there are a number of different reasons why we need to continue to look at this data further. also this lunchtime... buckingham palace has released a photograph of the queen giving her christmas broadcast, which is expected to be particularly personal following the death of prince philip. and the most powerful telescope to ever be launched into space is due to blast off on christmas day.

official findings that omicron may be less likely to result in serious illness than delta offer a "glimmer of christmas hope" according to the head of the uk health security agency. drjenny harries also told the bbc that omicron covid infections are "only now" beginning to tip into the older population, and it's still uncertain whether they'll experience milder disease than with infections caused by delta. so far borisjohnson has stuck to his plan b measures — face masks, covid passes and working from home guidance — and says no new measures will be announced before christmas. scotland, wales and northern ireland have all announced further restrictions to come in from sunday. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes.

that's it done. a christmas eve booster in _ that's it done. a christmas eve booster in basingstoke. - that's it done. a christmas eve booster in basingstoke. here l that's it done. a christmas eve i booster in basingstoke. here they are getting jabs in arms up until christmas. it are getting 'abs in arms up until christmas. . , are getting 'abs in arms up until mums.— are getting 'abs in arms up until christmas. it was good, it made sense to do _ christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, _ christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, doing _ christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, doing my - christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, doing my bit - christmas. it was good, it made sense to do it, doing my bit for| christmas. it was good, it made i sense to do it, doing my bit for the community— sense to do it, doing my bit for the community and everybody else. in community and everybody else. england community and everybody else. in england people will be able to get vaccinated throughout the festive break. 200,000 slots for first, second and boosterjabs are available, including on christmas day and boxing day.— available, including on christmas day and boxing day. people are so keen to come _ day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. _ day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. there _ day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. there was - day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. there was a - day and boxing day. people are so keen to come in. there was a big i keen to come in. there was a big rush at the beginning of the week, it slowed down a little bit but in fact people are really positive about having theirjabs. about having their 'abs. people in scotland, wales _ about having theirjabs. people in scotland, wales and _ about having theirjabs. people in scotland, wales and northern - about having theirjabs. people in - scotland, wales and northern ireland are being encouraged to get a jab to with vaccination centres closed over christmas until the 27th. even as the push on boosters continue, experts are mulling over the latest more hopeful research on the omicron variant, indicating it could be less severe than delta.— variant, indicating it could be less severe than delta. potentially this is aood severe than delta. potentially this is good news. _ severe than delta. potentially this is good news, if _ severe than delta. potentially this is good news, if omicron - severe than delta. potentially this is good news, if omicron really - severe than delta. potentially this is good news, if omicron really is| is good news, if omicron really is less nasty, and it is certainly

shaping up to look less nasty, that's fantastic, what better christmas present could we have? but at the moment the data is small, mainly across the younger population so we are holding our breath. it is a cautious — so we are holding our breath. it is a cautious welcome, still some big unknowns, particularly how older people might be affected. typically we are seeing _ people might be affected. typically we are seeing omicron _ people might be affected. typically we are seeing omicron largely - people might be affected. typically we are seeing omicron largely in i we are seeing omicron largely in young _ we are seeing omicron largely in young people and it's onlyjust now the cases— young people and it's onlyjust now the cases are starting to tip into the cases are starting to tip into the older— the cases are starting to tip into the older population, particularly in the _ the older population, particularly in the 60 — the older population, particularly in the 60 and 70 plus —year—olds. there _ in the 60 and 70 plus —year—olds. there are — in the 60 and 70 plus —year—olds. there are a — in the 60 and 70 plus —year—olds. there are a number of different reasons— there are a number of different reasons why we need to continue to look at _ reasons why we need to continue to look at this— reasons why we need to continue to look at this data further. even reasons why we need to continue to look at this data further.— look at this data further. even if the virus causes _ look at this data further. even if the virus causes less _ look at this data further. even if the virus causes less severe - look at this data further. even if. the virus causes less severe illness in most people, it is so contagious, hundreds of thousands are likely to catch it, including health service workers, raising concerns about a staffing crisis. some have already noticed shifts are getting busier. there is the increasing absence rates, the queueing at hospital,

hearing our control staff call out for any ambulances available, and therejust are not for any ambulances available, and there just are not any left. that is taking a toll on front line staff. so the booster rolled out forjust on in all sorts of settings, here in an asian restaurant in bradford, an area where vaccine hesitancy has been higher than the rest of the country so they are trying to make the process as easy as possible. irate the process as easy as possible. we are the process as easy as possible. - are creating access where our communities are. a restaurant is the best place for this time of year, to come and bring the vaccines to make it as easy and as accessible as we can. ., , it as easy and as accessible as we can. . , , ., _ can. the latest estimate by the office for national _ can. the latest estimate by the office for national statistics . can. the latest estimate by the office for national statistics is | office for national statistics is that by last sunday more than 1.7 million people in the uk were infected with the virus, around one infected with the virus, around one in 35. it may be less severe than first feared, but the numbers catching the virus mean there will still be tough weeks ahead. dominic hughes, bbc news. our health editor

hugh pym joins me now. we have minutes from the latest meeting of government experts and data about how fast covid is spreading so what are we learning? yes, this is the office for national statistics survey, referred to in dominic's piece, which goes around the same households repeatedly in the same households repeatedly in the tens of thousands of households, to do spot checks. it picks up people who have not come forward with symptoms to get tested. it picks up those who are asymptomatic as well. it is seen as a very authoritative guide to what's going on, more so than the daily tests that we get and we have seen over the last few days. the latest study goes right up until sunday and compares with the study that went two or three days previously and it shows just in those three days how much the virus had spread to more people, adding 368,000 just in that time in terms of the week up until

the 19th. one in 35 in england had the 19th. one in 35 in england had the virus. slightly fewer in wales and northern ireland. in scotland it was one in 65. we know london to be the epicentre. we have seen focus on hospital admission is there and one in 20 had the virus according to the ons. it's an indication of how quickly this is spreading, fuelled by the surge in omicron. on the back of that we have the latest set of minutes from the expert advisory committee, sage, who met yesterday, and they point to the fast increase of infections in london and hospital numbers. that is clearly an issue they say. at the moment it is quite concentrated in lower age groups. the worry is if it spreads to older groups who are more vulnerable. the minutes do repeat the severity of omicron is seen as less than delta and that means that is something thatis and that means that is something that is going to be a factor that may be puts a little less pressure on the health service, but when you add in the speed of acceleration of

the virus, that still means a lot of pressure on the nhs and a lot of uncertainty about the weeks ahead, say sage. hugh pym, thank you. the queen is expected to give a very personal christmas message tomorrow — her first since the death of her husband, prince philip. she will speak beside a framed photograph of the couple taken during their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007, and will wear the same sapphire brooch that she wore on her honeymoon. a warning — our royal correspondent nicholas witchell�*s report does contain flashing images. for the queen, forced for a second year by covid to spend christmas at windsor rather than hosting herfamily at sandringham, this will be a moment to reflect on a year marked by sadness. her christmas broadcast, a still from which has been issued by buckingham palace, is expected to be a very personal one. prominently on the desk beside her, a photograph of her and prince philip taken in 2007 when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. philip's death last april, two months short of his 100th

birthday and after 73 years of marriage, was the emotional low point of the year for the monarch. apart from a reference to him in her address to the cop 26 conference, the queen has not so far spoken publicly about how much he meant to her. her broadcast may be an opportunity for her to do so. within the royal family, mindful that this will be the queen's first christmas without her husband, arrangements have been changed so that she won't be alone. clarence house has confirmed that the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall willjoin her at windsor on christmas day. other members of the family may also be there. but absent, of course, will be the duke and duchess of sussex. from their home in california, they've issued this photograph wishing their supporters happy holidays. it shows harry and meghan with their son archie and their daughter lilibet, pictured for the first time. and so, at the end of a year touched by personal sadness, and some family tensions,

thoughts will start to look ahead to next year and the celebrations to mark the queen's 70 years on the throne. uppermost in the minds of the palace planners, of course, will be the question of the queen's health. it's always a sensitive matter. it has particular significance after the recent concerns, and given that next year is the year of her platinum jubilee. the queen will certainly want to be involved in thejubilee as fully as possible, and there will be another event of special significance to her — a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke of edinburgh, which, it has been announced, will take place at westminster abbey in the spring. nicholas witchell, bbc news. rail passengers are facing major disruption today due to a strike by staff on cross country trains. rmt members have walked out in a dispute over the role of guards.

cross country say routes are affected from northern scotland to south—west england and advise passengers to check theirjourneys before travelling. a third boxing day premier league match has been postponed because of a covid outbreak. too many everton players either have coronavirus or injuries which mean they can't play against burnley. the premier league had already announced that outbreaks in the leeds and watford squads mean they're unable to travel to liverpool and wolves respectively. the most powerful telescope to ever be launched into space blasts off from french guiana tomorrow. it's travelling nearly a million miles from earth, and it will look back in time to the first luminous glows after the big bang. our science editor rebecca morelle reports. it's taken 30 years to develop, cost more than $10 billion and has involved thousands of scientists. now the james webb space telescope is finally ready to launch to begin

the most ambitious astronomy mission ever attempted. this telescope is absolutely the biggest and most complex and most powerful telescope that we've ever attempted to send to space. all of us astronomers are extremely eager to get this telescope into space. but i think it's going to work and i think it's going to, again, just completely revolutionise how we understand the cosmos. the telescope is a successor to hubble, which has given us amazing images. butjames webb is much more powerful. its mirror is almost three times bigger, which means it can reveal parts of the cosmos we've never seen before. gazing up into the heavens can help us to answer some of the biggest questions like where we come from and how did we get here? this space telescope will help us to look further back in time than ever before to 13.5 billion years ago, revealing the light from the very first stars to shine. we'll be able to see the earliest galaxy formation

and whether they spiral into space like our own milky way, and other planetary systems will also come into view, allowing us to discover whether life could exist on other worlds. scientists will be able to study every phase of cosmic history. we think that the first stars might actually be really huge and they will be burning really hot and really brightly and would die very quickly, possibly with a huge explosion. but we haven't seen it yet and we really hope that this is something that we're going to find with the webb telescope. but before it can take any images, there's the most difficult task ahead. the telescope's so huge, to get it into a rocket, it's been folded up like origami. for it to unfurl in space, more than 100 release mechanisms need to fire at exactly the right time in the right order. if anything goes wrong, it's game over. we know there are many ways that it could fail. so that means to rehearse

and rehearse and rehearse. we've unfolded it and folded it up many times. we've examined it carefully. every time we say, well, that's not quite right, we'd better fix that. and it's extraordinarily challenging. the final preparations have been under way. it's an incredibly tight fit, as the rocket is tentatively lowered over the folded telescope. this is high stakes science, but if it works, it could lead to discoveries that scientists haven't even dreamt of. rebecca morrelle, bbc news. the luxury department store chain selfridges is being sold to a thai retailer and an austrian property firm. the deal for the majority of selfridges group is worth around £4 billion. founded in 1908 by the us retail magnate harry gordon selfridge, the company is best known for its flagship department store on london's oxford street. england's cricketers are making their final preparations

for third ashes test on boxing day in melbourne. after two comprehensive defeats, being beaten again would see them lose the series with two matches to spare. nesta mcgregor reports. we all know, it is the season for giving, but so far england have been overly generous. from giving up easy wickets, two missed catches and ultimately missed opportunities. anderson is gone and australia have won the test match. the anderson is gone and australia have won the test match.— won the test match. the scary news for england. — won the test match. the scary news for england. the _ won the test match. the scary news for england, the last _ won the test match. the scary news for england, the last time _ won the test match. the scary news for england, the last time they - won the test match. the scary newsj for england, the last time they were 2-0 for england, the last time they were 2—0 down and won an ashes test was... actually, it has never been done, so a chance forjoe root�*s side to create history and restore pride. irate side to create history and restore ride. ~ ., ,, ., side to create history and restore ride, . ., ~' ., ., side to create history and restore ride. ~ ., ,, ., ., ., pride. we all know what we need to do. that's pride. we all know what we need to do- that's the _ pride. we all know what we need to do. that's the art _ pride. we all know what we need to do. that's the art of _ pride. we all know what we need to do. that's the art of trying - pride. we all know what we need to do. that's the art of trying to - pride. we all know what we need to do. that's the art of trying to take l do. that's the art of trying to take ten wickets, trying to build pressure, understand how you will be able to create pressure through keeping a scoreboard quiet but also

being brave enough to hit the lengths that will take wickets and take chances. the lengths that will take wickets and take chances.— take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne _ take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne is _ take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne is the _ take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne is the venue - take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne is the venue for - take chances. the iconic mcg in melbourne is the venue for the | take chances. the iconic mcg in - melbourne is the venue for the third test. england, who have struggled to score runs, are expected to make changes with zak crawley and jonny bairstow replacing rory burns and ollie pope. fast bowler mark wood, who missed the second test, should also feature. australia, who have embarrassed the visitors so far, say they are expecting a much improved england side but know the odds of retaining the urn are in their favour. ~ ~' ., retaining the urn are in their favour. ~ ~ ., ., , ., ., favour. we know how good they are, a world-class — favour. we know how good they are, a world-class team _ favour. we know how good they are, a world-class team with _ favour. we know how good they are, a world-class team with world-class - world—class team with world—class players, so, yeah, we played really well in the last couple of matches but we are sure they will bounce back hard. but we are sure they will bounce back hard-— back hard. the stage is set for a famous boxing _ back hard. the stage is set for a famous boxing day _ back hard. the stage is set for a famous boxing day fixture. - famous boxing day fixture. post—christmas turkey, england hoping they don't get stuffed. nesta mcgregor, bbc news. there's more throughout the afternoon on the bbc news channel. we're back with the teatime news at 6:30pm. on bbc one, it's time for the news where you are.

goodbye. you're watching bbc news. the family of a nine—year—old boy, who shared his concerns about the rising cost of living, say they've been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. dayjanta samuels told the bbc last week that he wished he was older, so he could help pay for the household bills that his mother, a full—time carer, was struggling to meet. since then, they've been inundated with gifts and messages of support. our social affairs correspondent, michael buchanan, caught up with the family. dayjanta dreams of being a footballer. a common ambition for many nine—year—olds, but his motivation to earn some money to pay the family's household bills has led to an outpouring of love. i feel better because people said that i'm a sweet boy

and i'm a good child. last week, dayjanta and his mother spoke frankly about their financial struggles, how christine's full time salary as a carer wasn't enough to live on. do you worry? yeah, a lot and i don't want to be living out on the streets. i wish i was older so i could pay the bills with her. his honesty struck a chord and the family have been inundated with donations and gifts. i feel better because they made me forget about everything that's been bad happening and they made me think about fun stuff. a lady gave me £75 to get him sneakers and then he was like, i can take some of it for the bills. i'm like, oh, my god. i know it will take some time. i'm not going tojust go like that really. yeah, i'mjust happy that he's happy. my favourite thing in here is my bed cover and i really love it. and on the pillow...

the arsenal presents have made dayjanta happiest and his 18—year—old sister has also been sent some gifts. but for his mother, it's the cards and letters that have meant the most. if somebody say like something positive to me, like i'm a wonderful person and stuff, i find it hard to receive that because i never grew up like that, where, you know, your mum, your parents, say, speak these words. "you got no money, but you have two beautiful children that absolutely love you and one day... will understand all you have done for them". it's good when you receive words like this, it gives you a lot of motivation. it's very powerful. i think i will be always every now and then take them out and look at them. i will love the christmas tree. among the gifts was this real tree

and some presents for the family. for once, dreading christmas, the kindness of strangers has changed everything. i appreciate this so much. and i was thinking, i don't know, how can i tell these people thanks? since we first met, christine has lost herjob. her first task next year is therefore to get a new one. but the experience of the past week has given her renewed optimism. michael buchanan, bbc news, tipton in the west midlands. last christmas, many care home residents spent the festive season alone, separated from loved ones and isolated in their rooms. for one home in bristol, reflecting on the past year brings back painful memories — they lost ten residents to covid. as they look forward to this year's celebrations, our reporter fiona lamdin has been to catch up with them. we lost peggy on christmas day, then we lost michael,

nigel, roger, anne, pat, trudy, john, joyce and, lastly, jean. the covid outbreak at linden house in somerset last christmas claimed the lives of ten elderly residents in less than three weeks. we were clear for so long and then itjust hit us and with that, one by one, all of our staff were going, it was long, it was tiring. it was scary. head chef nic has worked here for three decades. she and her team did 12—hour shifts in the kitchen, sending meals on trays as the residents isolated alone in their rooms. we would facetime residents or sometimes you would run past their windows and just wave at them. and just sort of, like, let them know, you know, we are still here. i have made gingerbread men and i have put little blue mouths

on and dickie bowties... but a year on, nick hasjust finished icing the christmas cake, determined this year will be very different. are you more hopeful about this christmas? let's just get to christmas day, let's just have the day for our residents, because they missed out so much last year. and ijust hope that we make christmas day special and we have our big dinner and singing and, you know, everybody enjoying themselves with presents and that, but at the moment ijust go day by day. # jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.# - and many of these residents weren't here last year, and are, thankfully, unaware of the trauma this home and its staff went through. they are all so kind and good to me. well, they are to me! no, they are, really. we get good food and all that.

i have no doubt they will lay on a splendid christmas lunch. that'll be nice, we'll enjoy it. a year on, residents and staff are fully vaccinated and boosted but are worried about the new omicron variant. the threat of bringing it in here is like, yeah, it gives me quite a lot of anxiety. i don't mix with anybody outside of work. i meet one friend outside for a dog walk a couple times a week and that is it. but it's notjust covid. they have also had to deal with a staffing crisis. they are operating at half capacity — over 12 of their rooms are empty. despite a local recruitment drive, sandra has been unable to find staff. she has had to bring carers from abroad. i actually made the decision to remortgage my own home and buy a four bedroomed property so that i knew that when recruits came from abroad i would have somewhere for them to live. as this home counts down to christmas, in the midst

of celebration, they have created this memorial pathway to remember the ten who died. but among the sadness, there is new hope that next year will be better. fiona lamdin, bbc news. cheering. we all hope that. the christmas story has been told many times, but the minister of one chapel near swansea has brought in a stellar cast for his nativity that's guaranteed to bring a smile to yourface. reverend rory castle jones enlisted his congregation's dogs to play all the main characters — with the "three wise whippets" in support. he's been talking us through how it went. our story begins with the angel gabriel visiting a young couple — mary and joseph. we didn't have auditions for casting. we just told everyone

in the chapel and it sort ofjust emerged naturally. then, three wise whippets from the east followed the star to bethlehem to see the baby. this is edna, one of the wise men. all the wise men were women. i don't know if she is looking very demure now. we saw christmas approaching and saw things may be going downhill again. so we wanted to make people smile, see and hear the christmas story again, but maybe in a way they probably hadn't heard it before. who looks most like mary? who looks like a good shepherd? we had a cute, tiny puppy, so obviously he was babyjesus. there was no room at the inn. it was utter chaos, yes, absolutely. but we had some tricks up our sleeves, like a bamboo cane with a bag of treats hanging on the end, so we could dangle it and try to tempt them into going the right way. bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh.