Germany's decision late on Saturday is a response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK as well as other parts of Europe [File: Thilo Schmuelgen/Reuters]

Berlin, December 20 (RHC)-- Germany’s health authority has announced that the United Kingdom had been added to its list of COVID high-risk countries, which will mean tighter travel restrictions, as Europe tries to rein in the rising number of infections linked to the highly mutated Omicron strain.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the Omicron variant could be dominant in Europe by mid-January.  Many countries are reimposing travel restrictions and other measures weeks after the variant was first detected in South Africa.

Germany’s decision late on Saturday is a response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which forced London’s mayor Sadiq Khan to declare a “major incident” on Saturday in the British capital.  The change takes effect on Sunday at midnight.

More than 65,000 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in London over the past seven days, with 26,418 cases reported in the last 24 hours – the highest number since the start of the pandemic.