The Latest Breaking News from Omicron

NEW YORK — Although new omicron subvariants are again driving COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths higher in recent weeks, Americans are less inclined to mask up and get boosters because of pandemic burnout. Consequently, it’s a new opportunity for the mutating virus to reinfect the population with a different strain.

Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 continue to spread through Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Healthcare workers, carers and those in a clinical risk group - including pregnant women - will also be offered a booster vaccine after analysis identified those most at risk from the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants

Vaccine watchdog expands autumn booster programme due to uncertainty posed by Omicron sub-variants

The new subvariant is responsible for a massive wave of new infections.

Some parts of the country are nearing the record levels seen during the spring while hospital numbers are also continuing to increase

Australia’s chief medical officer will give a briefing to state and territory leaders on Saturday as the government backflips on pandemic support

Cases have been rising over the last few weeks

Around 3.5 million people thought to have disease in first week of July