Mandatory mask-wearing in shops and transport reimposed in England; Anthony Fauci says new variant is probably already in the US; Australia scrambles to prevent outbreak
- Johnson ignored my plan to deal with new variants – ex-official
- Omicron’s worst impact will be in nations with low vaccination rates
- What do we know about the new ‘worst ever’ Covid variant?
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Israel is banning the entry of all foreigners into the country, making it the first country to shut its borders completely in response to the Omicron variant. It also said it would use counter-terrorism phone-tracking technology in order to contain the spread of the Omicron variant.
Naftali Bennett, the prime minister, said in a statement that the ban, pending government approval, would last 14 days.