naomi grimley, bbc news.entists are now in a race to establish whether the new variant is more transmissible than the current delta variant and whether it causes more severe disease. they'll also be assessing its impact on the effectiveness of vaccines. our medical editor, fergus walsh, has more. afteralpha, beta, gamma, delta comes omicron, which scientists think could be the worst variant yet. so, is omicron more transmissible? it appears to be driving a rise in infections in south africa, but it's too early to be certain what's happening as cases only started increasing ten days ago from a very low level. the world health organization said omicron shows why the world needs a new global agreement on how to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics. we should all be wide awake to the threat of this virus. but omicron�*s very emergence is another reminder that, although many of us might think we are done with covid—i9, it's not done with us. another key unknown is whether omicron causes more severe illness. d

naomi grimley, bbc news.ish whether the new variant is more transmissible than the current dominant variant, the delta — and whether it causes more severe disease. they'll also be assessing its impact on the effectiveness of vaccines. our medical editor fergus walsh has more. afteralpha, beta, gamma, delta comes omicron, which scientists think could be the worst variant yet. so, is omicron more transmissible? it appears to be driving a rise in infections in south africa, but it's too early to be certain what's happening as cases only started increasing ten days ago from a very low level. the world health organization said omicron shows why the world needs a new global agreement on how to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics. we should all be wide awake to the threat of this virus. but omicron�*s very emergence is another reminder that, although many of us might think we are done with covid—i9, it's not done with us. another key unknown is whether omicron causes more severe illness. doctors in south afric

naomi grimley, bbc news. prosecution saying the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender jeffrey epstein "preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them, and served them up to be sexually abused." maxwell, who's 59, faces eight charges of sex trafficking and other offences. she has pleaded not guilty and her defence says she's being made a scapegoat for epstein's crimes. he took his own life while injail in 2019. from new york, nada tawfik reports. over the next few weeks, what plays out in this courthouse will be a crucial chapter in the twisted saga ofjeffrey epstein's sex trafficking ring and ghislane maxwell's alleged role in it. as her highly awaited trial began, the world's eyes were trained on what the evidence presented here would reveal. and so, too, were epstein's accusers. some arrived to show solidarity with the alleged victims. in opening statements, the government said ghislane maxwell was a dangerous predator who provided a cover of respectability for epstein. prosecutors said she lured

naomi grimley, bbc news.ced in the uk to try to prevent a new wave of coronavirus infections driven by the latest variant, omicron. scientists believe it will take about three weeks to gain a better understanding of its effects. the main proposal today is that every adult in england, wales, scotland, and northern ireland will now be offered a booster vaccination. the committee advising the government confirmed that the minimum gap between people's second dose and the booster should be reduced from six to three months. it also recommended that 12—15—year—olds should be invited for a second dose of the pfizer vaccine. the uk health secretary, sajid javid, explained why new measures were needed, including tougher rules on face coverings in england. we're learning more about this new variant all the time, but the latest indication is that it spreads very rapidly. it may impact the effectiveness of one of our major treatments for covid—19, and as the chief medical officer said this weekend, there's a reasonable ch

naomi grimley, bbc news.k at the situation in the uk in more detail, with the latest government coronavirus figures. they show there were just over 40,000 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. on average, 41,029 new cases were reported per day in the last week. 61 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. on average in the past week, 147 related deaths were recorded every day. and on vaccinations, more than 15 million people have now had their booster injection. manchester united have sacked their manager, ole gunar solskjaer, following yesterday's 4—1 defeat at watford. he'd been in charge for almost three years, but the club has suffered a string of poor results, and is currently eighth in the premier league. our sports correspondentjane dougall is at old trafford for us. the clock has been taking ole gunnar solskjaer for some the clock has been taking ole gunnar solskjaerfor some time the clock has been taking ole gunnar solskjaer for some t

here's naomi grimley. there is an eerie quiet at johannesburg airport.raised the alarm about the omicron variant but is now finding itself increasingly cut off from the rest of the world. meanwhile, on the ground, there is a big push to get vaccines into arms. only 23% of the south african population is fully vaccinated. we still don't know yet whether this version of covid is more severe than previous ones. one of those on the front line is reassured by what she has seen so far in her patients. for reassured by what she has seen so far in her patients.— reassured by what she has seen so far in her patients. for now, we are seeinu far in her patients. for now, we are seeing patients _ far in her patients. for now, we are seeing patients with _ far in her patients. for now, we are seeing patients with mild _ far in her patients. for now, we are| seeing patients with mild symptoms that we can treat at home, that would most probably not require intensive care or hospital admission.— intensive care or hospital admission. �* , ., , ., ., admission. amsterdam

three weeks, from monday, because of a record number of covid cases. 0ur health correspondent naomi grimleycinated people into lockdown, so this must be serious? yes, it is. intensive care wards in austria are under severe pressure and the reason for that is that only around 67% of the population is fully vaccinated which leaves a significant pocket who are not. that is behind the west european average. they will try this lockdown, things like bars and restaurants closed, also online learning for schools, and they will review it after ten days. perhaps the most significant thing is that they are going to require vaccination by law, the first european country to do so. others have tried it they have others have tried it they have tended to be like indonesia and turkmenistan that have had a more serious problem. how does austria's rate compare to the uk? i think we can see a graph now showing what is happening at the moment in austria, you can see the red line which has gone into what the scientists call exponential growth, incredibly steep. if you at the uk, have levels have remained high bu

uk aged 12 and over have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine. 0ur health correspondent naomi grimley into lockdown? the key thin to is going back into lockdown? the key thing to remember— is going back into lockdown? the key thing to remember is _ is going back into lockdown? the key thing to remember is the vaccination | thing to remember is the vaccination rates. in the uk, they�*re ready hi. if you look at austria, it�*s much lower. 67% have been double vaccinated. i think when that comes into case rates, we can see a graph now of what�*s been happening in europe. austria has gone into that exponential growth because of that massive pocket of unvaccinated people. the uk have had really high levels all through the summer and into the autumn, but they�*ve been a bit more consistent. they�*re court of —— sort of bouncing around. the more resistance there is built up over time, and that�*s been one of the main planks of the uk policy. now, we heard today about more infection prevalence at the moment. the office for national statistics as one in 65 of us has the virus. last week, it wa

our health correspondent, naomi grimley has the latest.the rest of the world. meanwhile on the ground there is a big push to get vaccines into arms. only 20% of the south african population is fully vaccinated. we still don�*t know yet whether this version of covid—19 is more severe than previous ones. one of those on the front nine is reassured by what she has seen so far in her patients. for now, we are seeing versions that we can treat at home that would be most not requiring i see you at mission or hospital admission. amsterdam is one of the world cities now discovering cases. 13 people were found to have it after flying in from south africa. the police even had to arrest a couple who try to escape from a quarantine hotel. portugal has also announced it�*s got 13 cases and on involve a local football club where one of its players had recently returned from a south african trip. in canada they have found two cases that links to travel from another african country entirely. nigeria. in the us so far they have not got any cases but the pr

make it a legal requirement to get vaccinated from february next year. 0ur health correspondent naomi grimleyunvaccinated i think that was partly because that was seen as unsustainable. secondly, the case rates — was seen as unsustainable. secondly, the case rates in _ was seen as unsustainable. secondly, the case rates in austria _ was seen as unsustainable. secondly, the case rates in austria are - was seen as unsustainable. secondly, the case rates in austria are such - the case rates in austria are such that they really need to get ahead of this now, and they think the best way to do this is to close bars and restaurants, put schools back online, and to basically be in a lockdown state for the next ten days. they will review it after that and see whether they extend it if necessary, but it's really a sign of a country getting to grips with outbreaks which have taken them by surprise in the last couple of weeks. the most significant thing it has done has been to require the population by law to get vaccinated ijy population by law to get vaccinated by early february. i5 population by law t

naomi grimley, bbc news. in year 7 and above must wear face masks in communal areas. joining me now is dr patrick roach, general secretary of nasuwt, the teachers�* union. thank you very much forjoining us. how important is it for you that the government acts more quickly than it has any past?— has any past? what are you calling for? firstly. _ has any past? what are you calling for? firstly. the — has any past? what are you calling for? firstly, the government - has any past? what are you calling| for? firstly, the government needs to be commended for having responded as quickly as it has done. that is a welcome development. i think the issue for the nasuwt and our members issue for the nasuwt and our members is whether the government has done enough. tough action is needed whenever we face new threats. we just cannot simply hope for the best. and we are seeing this virus continuing to spread both in schools and the wider community. we need to learn the lessons from last year that, actually, it is important