Britain tightens COVID rules as world on alert over omicron

By PAN PYLAS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. has tightened up rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two cases of the new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus that was identified just a few days ago in South Africa. New cases also have been confirmed in Germany and Italy, with Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong also reporting that the variant has been found in travelers. Governments around the world also are seeking to shore up their defenses. There are growing concerns that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than hoped because of fears that the new variant has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines.