A campaign designed to encourage people in Hertfordshire to keep safe and well over the festive season is launching.

Hertfordshire County Council says the discovery of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, has made it "all the more important" residents take extra care in the run up to Christmas.

There have been 75 identified cases of the Omicron variant in England with one identified in Hertfordshire so far - in Three Rivers district.

The deputy leader of the county council Morris Bright, who is also the cabinet member for public health and community safety, says "we still don't know much" about Omicron which is why he is asking residents to do what they can to keep safe.

He added: "No one wants a repeat of last Christmas, with rising infections rates, restrictions on get-togethers and increased hospital admissions.

"Taking these actions and other simple steps, like wearing a face covering in shops or public transport, letting fresh air in and continuing to wash your hands, will help protect us all.

"We are asking everyone to give the gift of good health to friends and family this festive season. Please make sure your Covid-19 vaccinations are up to date, getting your flu jab if you’ve been offered it and taking a rapid ‘lateral flow’ test shortly before you go out to meet people.

"If your test is positive, you will need to book a PCR test and self-isolate. Let's win winter together."

The council says it has teamed up with NHS organisations and district and borough councils to share the importance of getting vaccinated and getting regularly tested through three animated videos in December.

Around 32 per cent of Hertfordshire's over 12 population have received a Covid booster jab, with just over 900,000 receiving at least one dose.

But around 20 per cent of over 12s in the county remain unvaccinated against Covid-19, Public Health England data shows.

Dr Rachel Joyce, director of clinical and professional services for Hertfordshire and west Essex, said: "The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has already saved well over a hundred thousand lives and prevented millions of cases of severe disease.

"There will be people enjoying Christmas and New Year with their friends and family this winter who simply wouldn’t be with us if they hadn’t been vaccinated.

"I know that a lot of us are planning to make up for lost time this year but I would strongly encourage anyone planning a family gathering or party to make sure that no-one brings Covid-19 with them."

The council says there are now "more places than ever" to get vaccinated in Hertfordshire. Visit https://covid.healthierfuture.org.uk for more information and details.

Find out how to get home test kits at hertfordshire.gov.uk/hometestkit