Millions of people are facing travel disruption and increased COVID-19 restrictions over Christmas, as the surging Omicron variant sees flights cancelled and safety curbs tightened.
Italy, Spain and Greece have made face masks compulsory outdoors again.
Catalonia, in northern Spain, has imposed an overnight curfew, and the Netherlands is in a strict lockdown.
Despite early findings that Omicron is milder than other variants, scientists are concerned by the number of cases.
Record infections were tallied in the UK, France and Italy yesterday.
In the US, daily Omicron cases have risen beyond the peak of the recent Delta wave, and hospitals are filling up across the country.
On Christmas Eve, US airlines said they were already suffering from staffing shortages due to flight crews testing positive or being forced to self-isolate.
In Australia, thousands of festive journeys were affected yesterday with more than 100 domestic flights from Sydney and Melbourne to other cities cancelled.
Despite the upheaval, many Australians may be celebrating the fact they can travel between states over the holidays for the first time in two years.
[Source: BBC]
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