At least 64 people are confirmed dead following a boat accident off the coast of Antseraka,
Analanjirofo,
Madagascar, on Monday, with 24 others still missing.
(France 24)
Madagascar's police minister
Serge Gellé is rescued after swimming for 12 hours to shore after his helicopter crashed off the country's northern coast during the boat accident rescue operation.
PresidentAndry Rajoelina hails Gellé's survival.
(Deutsche Welle)
First ministerMark Drakeford announces new restrictions, including limiting the number of people in events to 50 people outdoors and 30 people indoors, no more than six people in a group at bars, restaurants, and cinemas, and imposing a
face mask mandate due to the spread of the
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. These measures will be in effect beginning on December 26.
(BBC News)
The
United Kingdom reports a record 106,122 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the first time that the country has reported more than 100,000 new cases in a single day.
(The Independent)
The
government announces a series of new restrictions, including closing restaurants at 10 p.m. beginning on December 27, discourage large-scale New Year's Eve celebrations, capacity restrictions of indoor and outdoor events, and imposing strict entry requirements for travellers from the UK,
Denmark,
Norway, and the
Netherlands where the Omicron variant is already dominant in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variant.
(AP)
Prime MinisterAlexander De Croo announces that, due to the spread of the Omicron variant,
water parks, cinemas, theatres and concert halls will be closed, and all indoor events and outdoor events using a tent will be banned. Additionally, shopping will only be allowed in pairs and professional and amateur sport events will be held without spectators. These measures will begin on December 26.
(The Brussels Times)
British Columbia closes all bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centres, and dance studios, and bans all indoor gatherings due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
(CBC)
The
Soroka Medical Center in
Beersheba clarifies that the man thought to be
Israel's first Omicron death had actually had the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, following the final laboratory results regarding his condition.
(The Times of Israel)
Japan reports its first locally transmitted cases of the Omicron variant in three people from
Osaka Prefecture with no international travel history.
(The Japan Times)
Venezuela reports its first seven cases of the Omicron variant in a group of people who had travelled from another country, such as
Spain,
Dominican Republic,
Panama, and Turkey.
(Reuters)
Italy bans
fur farming and orders all remaining
mink farms to shut down by June 2022, while a ban on breeding animals for their fur becomes effective immediately.
(Greek Reporter)