The Omicron variant and Christmas holidays have helped drive Covid transmission to record levels

France, Italy and New York City have seen record numbers of Covid-19 cases over the Christmas holidays as the highly transmissible Omicron variant has triggered a huge surge in infections worldwide.

France recorded 104,611 on Saturday, according to data from the public health office, higher than the 94,124 infections the previous day and the first time the country has gone past 100,000 infections in a single day.

The French government will meet on Monday to discuss new restrictions to stem the increase. It comes after France announced earlier this month that all UK arrivals would be banned from entering the country unless they had a “compelling reason to do so”.

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