EU chief warns Omicron could be dominant in Europe by mid-Jan
AMN/ WEB DESK
Paris has put of traditional New Year fireworks as Europe braced for tighter curbs to rein in the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus fuelling a resurgence in Covid-19 cases worldwide. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned the Omicron coronavirus variant could be dominant in Europe by mid-January.
Many countries have decided to reintroduce travel restrictions and other containment measures since it was first detected in South Africa last month. In Ireland, bars and restaurants will have to close from 8:00 pm until January 30, Prime Minister Micheal Martin announced and Switzerland is also stepping up anti-Covid measures from today as the country battles an intense fifth wave of the virus, which has killed at least 5,335,968 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.