The Covid alert level has increased from Level 3 to Level 4.

Following advice from the UK Health Security Agency and in light of "the rapid increase in Omicron cases", the UK Chief Medical Officers have recommended the UK's alert level should increase.

Level four means a high or rising level of transmission. The last time the UK was at level four was in May.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to address the nation later this evening in a televised statement at 8pm.

A statement from the chief medical officers says: "Early evidence shows that Omicron is spreading much faster than Delta and that vaccine protection against symptomatic disease from Omicron is reduced.

"Data on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalisations from Omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly.

"The NHS is currently under pressure mainly driven by non-COVID-19 pressures.

"With a variant spreading with increased transmissibility and reduced vaccine effectiveness, we are likely to see this pressure rise soon."

People are once again being urged to get their booster vaccinations and from tomorrow over 30s can book their jabs.

People are also being reminded to wear face coverings and test regularly at home.