The meeting is expected to start at 1230 GMT, after which a statement may be issued in the afternoon, a ministry spokesman said.

The G7 consists of the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, as well as the European Union as guests.

As host, the meeting will be chaired by the UK Health Minister, Sajid Javid, who will then, at 1530 GMT, appear before Parliament to explain the restrictions announced on Saturday to stop the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the country. .

The measures, which lawmakers will vote on later, include wearing masks in some closed places from Tuesday, PCR testing of all travelers upon arrival in the UK and self-isolation until they get negative results and speeding up doses of booster vaccines.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, which advises Governments, is expected to provide further details today on this last point.

The omicron variant, which has caused many countries to suspend flights to southern Africa, worries the World Health Organization (WHO) because of the thirty mutations it causes and the greater possibility of transmission and risk of reinfection, although data are lacking to determine its impact. .

The UK has so far detected nine infections, three in England and six in Scotland, although the virus is believed to be more widespread.

The British government has banned flights from a total of ten African countries, except for UK citizens or residents, who must be confined here in a designated hotel, paying the fee.

These are South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

CP (effe, afp)