France prepares to announce new Covid measures as it sees record coronavirus cases alongside Denmark and Iceland and Ireland

• France is on the brink of new Covid measures to fight against Omicron variant 
• It comes as coronavirus cases across Europe have spiked, especially in Denmark
• The five countries with highest case rates over the last week were all European

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce Covid measures today as the country braces for a surge in cases due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.

Officials warned hospitals risk being overwhelmed again after a record 100,000 cases were reported on Saturday, the highest daily level in France since the pandemic began nearly two years ago.

Health experts estimated the number of daily cases could increase rapidly by mid-January, even though millions of people received booster shots in recent weeks.

Nearly 3,300 people are currently in intensive care, again above the crisis threshold of 3,000 set by authorities for handling the worst cases.

The five countries with the highest coronavirus case rates over the last week were all European

Around 22 million people out of an eligible 40 million in France have received Covid booster shots.

President Macron held a crisis meeting at 3pm via videoconference from his Mediterranean holiday retreat at Bregancon, in the south of Grace, with key members of his cabinet and representatives of French public health bodies.

One measure under consideration is to use Covid passports to restrict restaurants, cinemas and other public venues, only to people who are fully vaccinated or have a recent negative test.

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) is expected to announce new Covid measures to fight the Omicron variant

The passport could also be used in bars or cafes without table seating as well as nightclubs if they are allowed to reopen in January after a four-week closure ordered on December 6.

Some doctors also suggested a curfew for New Year’s Eve, while a group of health workers wanted to postpone the return of students to schools after the holidays, set for January 3.

Masks could also be needed when outside, a measure already imposed in the Savoie region in the French Alps, and in other European countries.

Officials urged people not to hold parties or large family gatherings over the holidays.

It comes as other European countries saw record coronavirus cases.

Denmark and Iceland reported record daily coronavirus cases on Monday.

Both Nordic nations had some of Europe’s lowest infection rates before Omicron’s arrival.

Europe recorded the most Covid cases and deaths in the past seven days.

The five countries with the highest case rates over the last seven days were all European.

People queue for a rapid test at a test centre set up at Budolfi Church in the center of Aalborg, Denmark

Denmark’s daily infection total exceeded 15,000 for the first time, with health authorities registering 16,164 Covid cases in a single day.

The country of 5.8 million people has the world’s highest infection rate, with 1,612 cases per 100,000 people.

However, only seven deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.

Early studies suggested Omicron causes less severe disease than previous strains such as the Delta variant that was first identified in India.

Denmark closed cultural attractions and limited opening hours in bars and restaurants in mid-December to fight the latest wave of infections as Omicron became the dominant strain.

Meanwhile Iceland registered a record 672 cases in the past 24 hours, despite never having reported more than 200 daily cases until mid-December.

During last year’s autumn wave, daily infection totals in Iceland never exceeded 100.

In neighbouring Norway, Omicron has become the dominant variant in the capital Oslo.

The Irish HSE fully reopened vaccination centres as 6,735 Covid cases were reported on Monday. Pictured: Christmas shoppers in Dublin.

Latest figures in Ireland show that 461 Covid patients are in hospital, with 91 in intensive care. Pictured: Irish shoppers in Dublin

Health officials in Ireland were also expecting large Covid case numbers reported over the coming days.

Testing centres across the country fully reopened after some were closed or scaled back over the Christmas period.

The Irish HSE fully reopened vaccination centres as 6,735 Covid cases were reported on Monday.

Latest figures show 461 Covid patients are in hospital, with 91 in intensive care.

The overall positivity rate was nearly 50 per cent

Health officials believed 87 per cent of reported cases in Ireland are now due to Omicron.

High numbers of Covid cases come as the number of infections in the UK has spiked massively

The number of deaths as a result of coronavirus hasn’t spiked at the same rate in the UK

The Department of Health tweeted that it was anticipating ‘large volumes of case numbers over the coming period’.

Earlier HSE chief executive Paul Reid tweeted: ‘Well done to all of our vaccination teams. Back at it.

‘It’s never too late to receive your first dose vaccine. Please take the earliest opportunity to receive your booster.’

Ireland already has a range of restrictions in place amid concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.

All restaurants, bars and cafes have had to shut their doors at 8pm, while indoor events have a limited attendance of 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people, whichever is lower.

Outdoor events are also limited to half capacity with a maximum of 5,000 people.

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