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| Covid: Holiday plans disrupted as Omicron surge grounds flights | Covid: Holiday plans disrupted as Omicron surge grounds flights |
| (7 months later) | |
| Travellers wait for their delayed Delta Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport, California | Travellers wait for their delayed Delta Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport, California |
| Holiday travel plans around the world continue to be disrupted with thousands of flights cancelled for the Christmas weekend as Covid infections surge. | Holiday travel plans around the world continue to be disrupted with thousands of flights cancelled for the Christmas weekend as Covid infections surge. |
| Airlines have blamed shortages of healthy staff for the cancellations of nearly 2,400 flights on Friday and more than 2,300 on Saturday. | Airlines have blamed shortages of healthy staff for the cancellations of nearly 2,400 flights on Friday and more than 2,300 on Saturday. |
| More than 800 of those cancelled on Saturday were to or from US airports. | More than 800 of those cancelled on Saturday were to or from US airports. |
| In Europe, travel restrictions are among measures aimed at reducing cases, largely driven by the Omicron variant. | In Europe, travel restrictions are among measures aimed at reducing cases, largely driven by the Omicron variant. |
| Despite early findings that Omicron is milder than other variants, scientists are concerned by the sheer number of infections being recorded. | Despite early findings that Omicron is milder than other variants, scientists are concerned by the sheer number of infections being recorded. |
| Many of the flight cancellations are the result of airline crews testing positive, or being forced to self-isolate to stem the spread. | Many of the flight cancellations are the result of airline crews testing positive, or being forced to self-isolate to stem the spread. |
| Further delays and disruption are expected with hundreds more flights cancelled on Sunday, according to website FlightAware. | Further delays and disruption are expected with hundreds more flights cancelled on Sunday, according to website FlightAware. |
| How can I tell I have Omicron? | How can I tell I have Omicron? |
| Covid map: Where are cases the highest? | Covid map: Where are cases the highest? |
| Omicron wave appears milder, but concern remains | Omicron wave appears milder, but concern remains |
| The US, like many countries around the world, has seen a sharp rise in cases. | The US, like many countries around the world, has seen a sharp rise in cases. |
| "When we have millions and millions and millions of people, all sick, all together at one time, it doesn't take a large percentage of those people to topple over the hospitals," Dr Hallie Prescott, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, told the New York Times. | "When we have millions and millions and millions of people, all sick, all together at one time, it doesn't take a large percentage of those people to topple over the hospitals," Dr Hallie Prescott, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, told the New York Times. |
| In the UK - which once again saw record-breaking case numbers confirmed on Friday - volunteers are preparing for a Christmas Day booster jabs push to reduce the impact of Omicron. | In the UK - which once again saw record-breaking case numbers confirmed on Friday - volunteers are preparing for a Christmas Day booster jabs push to reduce the impact of Omicron. |
| Across Europe, governments are bringing in their own measures to combat the increase: | Across Europe, governments are bringing in their own measures to combat the increase: |
| Italy, Spain and Greece have made face masks compulsory outdoors again | Italy, Spain and Greece have made face masks compulsory outdoors again |
| Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, has imposed an overnight curfew | Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, has imposed an overnight curfew |
| The Netherlands entered a strict lockdown earlier this week | The Netherlands entered a strict lockdown earlier this week |
| Germany has said it will restrict private gatherings to 10 people and close nightclubs from 28 December. Football matches will be played behind closed doors | Germany has said it will restrict private gatherings to 10 people and close nightclubs from 28 December. Football matches will be played behind closed doors |
| Portugal has ordered bars and nightclubs to shut from 26 December, and made working from home obligatory until 9 January | Portugal has ordered bars and nightclubs to shut from 26 December, and made working from home obligatory until 9 January |
| But in South Africa - where the Omicron variant was first identified - the government has ended Covid contact tracing, except for serious cluster outbreaks or prisons. | But in South Africa - where the Omicron variant was first identified - the government has ended Covid contact tracing, except for serious cluster outbreaks or prisons. |
| The health department announced that as most of the population had now been exposed to the coronavirus, the policy is now shifting from a containment strategy to one of mitigation including self-monitoring, mask wearing and social distancing. | The health department announced that as most of the population had now been exposed to the coronavirus, the policy is now shifting from a containment strategy to one of mitigation including self-monitoring, mask wearing and social distancing. |
| The US earlier announced it would lift travel restrictions imposed on South Africa and seven other African countries because of concerns about the Omicron variant on 31 December. | The US earlier announced it would lift travel restrictions imposed on South Africa and seven other African countries because of concerns about the Omicron variant on 31 December. |
| Travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi had been blocked since 29 November. | Travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi had been blocked since 29 November. |
| Millions of Americans are pushing ahead with their holiday travel plans despite the disruption | Millions of Americans are pushing ahead with their holiday travel plans despite the disruption |
| America's top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned earlier this week that Christmas travel would increase the spread of the variant even among the fully vaccinated. | America's top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, warned earlier this week that Christmas travel would increase the spread of the variant even among the fully vaccinated. |
| However, thousands found their plans thrown into disarray as flights across the country were cancelled or delayed. | However, thousands found their plans thrown into disarray as flights across the country were cancelled or delayed. |
| The worst affected US companies are Delta, United Airlines and American Airlines. | The worst affected US companies are Delta, United Airlines and American Airlines. |
| United Airlines said rising numbers of Omicron cases had "had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation", adding that it was contacting impacted passengers in advance of them coming to the airport. | United Airlines said rising numbers of Omicron cases had "had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation", adding that it was contacting impacted passengers in advance of them coming to the airport. |
| Overall, global airlines have cancelled more 4,700 flights scheduled to take off on Friday and Saturday. | Overall, global airlines have cancelled more 4,700 flights scheduled to take off on Friday and Saturday. |
| In Australia, thousands of festive journeys were affected on Friday with more than 100 domestic flights from Sydney and Melbourne to other cities cancelled. | In Australia, thousands of festive journeys were affected on Friday with more than 100 domestic flights from Sydney and Melbourne to other cities cancelled. |
| A spokesperson for the Australian airline Jetstar, which accounted for many of the cancellations, said the company had rebooked "the vast majority" of affected passengers "within a few hours of their original departure time so they can get to their destination in time for Christmas". | A spokesperson for the Australian airline Jetstar, which accounted for many of the cancellations, said the company had rebooked "the vast majority" of affected passengers "within a few hours of their original departure time so they can get to their destination in time for Christmas". |
| Meanwhile, Britons stranded in Australia have been making the most of the situation by spending time on Sydney's Bondi Beach. | Meanwhile, Britons stranded in Australia have been making the most of the situation by spending time on Sydney's Bondi Beach. |
| "There's no flights home. I'm celebrating in the best way I can. I love being in Australia, I love being in Bondi," Matthew Ryan Johnson said, adding: "Being on the beach for Christmas day is a dream come true." | "There's no flights home. I'm celebrating in the best way I can. I love being in Australia, I love being in Bondi," Matthew Ryan Johnson said, adding: "Being on the beach for Christmas day is a dream come true." |
| More than 5.3 million people have died with coronavirus worldwide, according to America's Johns Hopkins University. There have been 279 million confirmed cases. | More than 5.3 million people have died with coronavirus worldwide, according to America's Johns Hopkins University. There have been 279 million confirmed cases. |
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| Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled" | Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled" |
| Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled" | |
| Have you been affected by a cancelled flight? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by a cancelled flight? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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