Guardian

The Guardian says European countries have banned flights and ferries carrying British travellers amid concerns over the new strain of coronavirus.

The Guardian’s front page focuses on teachers’ unions’ rejection of the government’s plans for mass testing of secondary school students after Christmas.Unions have told their members not to work on the plans during the holidays and have branded them inoperable.You can read more here.

Analysis from The Guardian reveals the number of patient diversions to other hospitals in the last week has reached the highest figure in four years. This, the newspaper says, demonstrates how much the healthcare system is struggling with the latest wave of coronavirus. It also comes after several NHS Trusts said on Thursday that non-urgent operations had been put on hold due to the pressure from COVID-19. Read more on this story here. 

The front page of The Guardian carries a picture of nine-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah, who became the first person in history to have officially died as a result of air pollution. Her mother is calling for a new clean air act in her name after the coroner’s landmark ruling on Wednesday.You can read more about Ella’s story here.

Leaders will decide on Wednesday if coronavirus rules around Christmas need to be toughened up, as the four nations are expected to meet to agree a joint approach, reports The Guardian. 

More than 60% of people in England face winter under the strictest COVID measures, with pubs and restaurants forced to close before Christmas amid warnings of a new strain of the virus, writes The Guardian.Find out more about the new virus strain here.

The Guardian says there are renewed hopes a deal could be done soon, as officials are asked “to go the extra mile”.

Families are being warned that meeting up over Christmas could cause a third wave of coronavirus cases, with scientists warning simply following the rules will not be enough, writes The Guardian. 

The Guardian focuses on what Boris Johnson said after returning from a three-hour summit in Brussels, saying he rejected the idea of the UK being treated “like the EU’s twin”.

The Guardian describes the prime minister’s meeting in Brussels as a “last-ditch Brexit Dinner”.