Covid news - live: Omicron wave ‘compromising’ NHS care, leader warns as Wales eases restrictions

Twenty-six deaths linked to Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have been recorded in the latest weekly update.

The figure represents an increase on the 18 deaths that occurred in the previous week, according to data compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).

The latest deaths, which happened in the week ending January 7, take the total number of coronavirus-linked fatalities recorded by Nisra to 4,060.

The Nisra figure is drawn from different data sources and is always higher than the Department of Health's total, as it provides a broader picture of the impact of Covid-19.

On January 7, the department had reported 3,006 deaths.

Italian police have protested to the interior ministry after being sent pink health masks to wear on duty, saying the colour risked damaging their reputation.

"We do not understand the reason behind the purchase of masks in a colour that would appear at first sight to be unsuitable for our administration," the police union wrote in a letter to the interior ministry.

"This purchase is puzzling," the letter said, adding that two years into the COVID-19 health crisis it should be easy to purchase appropriate face masks.

In future, masks should only be black, white or blue, they said.

There was no immediate comment from the interior ministry.

A Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is 85% effective in protecting against being hospitalised by the Omicron variant for 1-2 months after it is received, the head of South Africa's Medical Research Council (SAMRC) said on Friday.

Glenda Gray presented the findings of a SAMRC study at a South African health ministry briefing on the COVID-19 fourth wave, which has been driven by the new variant.

"We saw an 85% vaccine effectiveness and we saw that this kind of vaccine effectiveness is maintained for up to two months," she said. "We are very happy to report very high levels of vaccine effectiveness against Omicron."

From Saturday, the number of people who can attend outdoor events will rise from 50 to 500.

From Friday 21 January Wales would move to alert level zero for all outdoor activities.

This means there will be no limits on the number of people who can take part in outdoor activities.

Crowds will be able to return to outdoor sporting events, outdoor hospitality would be able to operate without additional reasonable measures.

However, the Covid Pass will be required for entry to larger outdoor events.

If the downward trend continues, from Friday 28 January Wales would move to alert level zero for all indoor activities.

Crowds will be able to return to outdoor sporting events in Wales under plans being outlined by the first minister.

My colleague Jane Dalton has more details below:

Drakeford told a briefing that the ONS Infection Survey showed that infections were falling.

"The increase in Wales has been smaller than in England," he said.

"In fact, infections in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - where more protective measures were put in place - are lower than in England.

"There are some signs that the growth in infections in Wales is slowing down."

He said the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is now just over 1,100.

"The total number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is starting to fall and the rate of admissions has been falling gradually for more than a week," he said.

He said that in Wales more than 1.8 million boosters and third doses have been given.

Germany could be facing recession after Europe’s biggest economy shrank at the end of last year, with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant deterring people from shopping and travel and supply bottlenecks holding back manufacturers.

Brazil is suffering a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads through the country, putting pressure on health services and weighing on an already sputtering economy.

Insufficient testing and a data blackout caused by hackers have made it harder for experts to track the spread of Omicron in Brazil, but there are increasingly clear signs that the variant is hitting Latin America's largest nation hard.

Confirmed cases have almost doubled since last week, with the rolling average for the past seven days surging to 52,500, from 27,267 last Wednesday.

Experts believe the actual number is much higher, due to a shortage of tests and patchy systems for reporting and public disclosure of data.

So far deaths - at around 120 a day - remain far lower than last year, when Brazil was briefly the global epicenter of the virus with over 3,000 deaths per day.

Hong Kong authorities said on Friday the city's airport will suspend for a month transit flights from around 150 countries and territories considered high risk because of the coronavirus, deepening the global financial hub's isolation.

Separately, the territory's leader Carrie Lam said restrictions on social life will be extended through the Lunar New Year holiday at the start of February, traditionally a time for shopping, feasting and family reunions.

"I know this will let a lot of people down," Lam told reporters. "Covid is not yet under control."

To help businesses survive the restrictions, Lam said the government would deliver economic relief measures worth HK$3.57 billion ($459 million), targetted at the establishments asked to close.

Fifteen types of venues, including bars and clubs, cinemas, gyms and beauty salons will remain closed for another two weeks after their current order to shutter expires next Thursday. Dining in restaurants will also remain banned after 6.00 pm.

Primary schools and kindergartens also remain shuttered.

Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic on Friday asked an Australian court to block his deportation ahead of the Australian Open after the government cancelled his visa for the second time over COVID-19 entry regulations.

Djokovic's lawyers submitted their request for an injunction late at night, less than three hours after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used discretionary powers to revoke the visa.

The world tennis number one, bidding for a record 21st Grand Slam trophy in defending his Australian title, had been told on arrival on Jan. 5 that his visa, granted on the basis of a medical exemption from a vaccination requirement for visitors, was invalid.

He spent several days in immigration detention before that decision was revoked on procedural grounds. His lawyers said the government had told them Djokovic would not be taken back into detention on Friday night.

The Age newspaper reported that the 34-year-old Serbian had been summoned to appear before immigration officials on Saturday.