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Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, including a new nationwide lockdown introduced by the Dutch government.

Schools, universities, and all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until January 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

Residents only will be permitted two visitors except for Christmas and New Year's, when four will be allowed.

READ MORE: Omicron cases found in 89 countries worldwide

"The Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow," Mr Rutte said, adding that the move was "unavoidable because of the fifth wave caused by the Omicron variant that is bearing down on us."

Before the Dutch announcement, alarmed ministers in France, Cyprus and Austria tightened travel restrictions.

Paris canceled its New Year's Eve fireworks. Denmark closed theaters, concert halls, amusement parks and museums. Ireland imposed an 8pm curfew on pubs and bars and limited attendance at indoor and outdoor events.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan underscored the official concern about the climbing cases and their potential to overwhelm the health care system by declaring a major incident Saturday, a move that allows local councils in Britain's capital to coordinate work more closely with emergency services.

READ MORE: Incredible moment diver is brought back from brink of death

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin captured the sense of the continent in an address to the nation, saying the new restrictions were needed to protect lives and livelihoods from the resurgent virus.

"None of this is easy," Mr Martin said on Friday night local time.

"We are all exhausted with COVID and the restrictions it requires. The twists and turns, the disappointments and the frustrations take a heavy toll on everyone. But it is the reality that we are dealing with."

The World Health Organization reported Saturday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to three days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad.

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Major questions about Omicron remain unanswered, including how effective existing COVID-19 vaccines are against it and whether the variant produces severe illness in many infected individuals, WHO noted.

Yet Omicron's "substantial growth advantage" over the Delta variant means it is likely to soon overtake Delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally, the UN health agency said.

In the Netherlands, anticipation a government meeting Saturday would result in tougher restrictions caused shoppers to swarm commercial areas of Dutch cities, fearing it would be their last chance to buy Christmas gifts.

Rotterdam municipality tweeted that it was "too busy in the center" of the port city and told people: "Don't come to the city." Amsterdam also warned that the city's main shopping street was busy and urged people to stick to coronavirus rules.

READ MORE: Man with 'weeks to live' reveals inspiring bucket list

In the UK, where confirmed daily cases soared to record numbers this week, the government has re-imposed a requirement for masks to be worn indoors and ordered people to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test when going to nightclubs and large events.

But the moves are causing anger.

Critics of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's latest coronavirus restrictions flooded Oxford Street, a popular London shopping area, on Saturday. The maskless protesters blew whistles, yelled "Freedom!" and told passersby to remove their face coverings.

Hundreds of people blocked traffic as they marched with signs bearing slogans such as "Vaccine passports kill our freedoms" and "Don't comply." Other signs had the faces of Johnson or UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid and read, "Give them the boot."

Scientists are warning the British government it needs to go further to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Leaked minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies suggested a ban on indoor mixing and hospitality, the BBC reported.

Britain and other nations are also accelerating the pace of booster shots after early data showed that two doses of vaccine were less effective against the omicron variant. Shopping centers, cathedrals and soccer stadiums in Britain have been converted into mass vaccination centers.

During a visit to a mass vaccination pop-up clinic at London soccer team Chelsea's stadium on Saturday, Mr Khan said the running of public services could be impeded by the rapidly spreading variant.

"The big issue we have is the number of Londoners who have this virus and that's leading to big issues in relation to staff absences and the ability of our public services to run at the optimum levels,'' he told the BBC.

"I'm incredibly worried about staff absences in the (National Health Service), in the fire brigade, in the police service, in our councils across London.''

Omicron is now the dominant coronavirus variant in London and efforts were stepped up to reach people who haven't yet been vaccinated or boosted.

"I want to make a direct appeal to the more than one million Londoners who are yet to come forward for any COVID-19 vaccinations — it's never too late to get your first or second dose,'' the mayor said.

"It will help to protect you, your loved ones and our NHS."

In France, the government announced that it will start giving the vaccine to children aged five to 11 beginning Wednesday.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said Friday that with the Omicron variant spreading like "lightning," the government proposed requiring proof of vaccination for those entering restaurants, cafes and other public establishments. The pending measure requires parliamentary approval.

Demonstrations were planned in Paris to oppose the vaccine pass proposal and ongoing government restrictions.

Thousands of opponents of vaccine requirements and mask mandates protested Saturday in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf and other German cities. In Austria, local media reported the crowds swelled to tens of thousands.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to three days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad, the World Health Organization said overnight.

Omicron's "substantial growth advantage" over the Delta variant means it is likely to soon overtake Delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally, the UN health agency said.

WHO noted that Omicron is spreading rapidly even in countries with high vaccination rates or where a significant proportion of the population has recovered from COVID-19.

READ MORE: Incredible moment diver is brought back from brink of death

It remains unclear if the rapid growth of Omicron cases is because the variant evades existing immunity, is inherently more transmissible than previous variants, or a combination of both, WHO said.

Other major questions about Omicron remain unanswered, including how effective each of the existing COVID-19 vaccines are against it.

Conclusive data also does not exist yet on how ill Omicron makes COVID-19 patients, the health agency said.

WHO first labeled Omicron a variant of concern on November 26.

After diving off the coast of Western Australia last month Mitchell Goodwin started to feel nauseous.

Then he lost his hearing, sight and blacked out on the back of his boat.

The experienced 36-year-diver was hunting for crayfish off the coast of Mandurah and had descended to a depth of 42 metres.

He was suffering from a condition well-known to divers; decompression sickness.

READ MORE: Family of jumping castle victim pay tribute to 'fun-loving' boy

Speaking to 9News Mr Goodwin said he spent too long underwater and ascended to the surface too fast.

"I spent too long on the bottom. I was supposed to be down there for 18 minutes, instead spent 27," he said.

"I was meant to take two decompression stops. I only took one so I pushed the limit and got caught for it and paid the price.

"I felt nauseous, felt something coming on couldn't stand up myself so I sat down, lost my hearing.

"I lost my sight and then blacked out."

READ MORE: NSW COVID-19 cases reach record high

Decompression sickness — also known as the bends — can occur when divers descend beyond a depth of 10 metres and then rise to the surface too quickly without taking necessary decompression stops; a pause during the diver's ascent.

This can cause nitrogen bubbles to form within the body's tissues and blood stream. Symptoms include pain in the muscles and joints, cramp, numbness, nausea, paralysis — and in extreme cases, can cause death.

Mr Goodwin was spared this fate due to the quick actions of police.

Officers found him unconscious on the back of his boat, after his mother and partner made an emergency call for help.

Senior Constable Ian Bembridge told 9News he didn't know what to expect from the call out.

"The only information we had was there was a diver suffering from the bends," he said.

"We just didn't know what to expect, it was very sketchy.

"We just knew that time was of the essence, it was critical."

Mr Goodwin was stabilised, given oxygen support and taken to hospital after finally arriving on shore.

Mr Goodwin temporarily lost his hearing, sight and was paralysed but has since made a full recovery.

He spent a week at the Fiona Stanley Hospital and a further two weeks in a decompression chamber.

Doctors say if it wasn't for the quick police response he could've died.

"I was told by the hospital that what saved my life was the oxygen and what helped me all the way through," Mr Goodwin said.

"So I take my hat off to them."

A Queensland man with terminal cancer has made an extensive bucket list, and today he got a big surprise while ticking something off.

Kienan Moore is 21-years-old and he's got weeks to live.

He was diagnosed with cancer in his knee last year, and since then the disease has spread aggressively to his brain and lungs.

READ MORE: Family of jumping castle victim pay tribute to 'fun-loving' boy

"It was a shock," Mr Moore admitted to 9News.

Faced with a race against time, Mr Moore made a bucket list and today he got to tick off. a big-ticket item.

He took an adrenalin-filled drifting adventure at a car racing track, but there was another special surprise.

He met Supercars driver Todd Hazlewood, who gifted the 21-year-old some racing gear and words of support.

"It was amazing. I'm lost for words. I have no voice but I couldn't stop smiling," Mr Moore said.

Mr Moore was surrounded by his mates for the event.

A big feature of his bucket list is spending time with loved ones.

"I just want to make sure that they don't feel like they didn't get enough time, that's the whole thing about it," Mr Moore said.

The race is now on for Mr Moore to tick as many things off his list as possible.

READ MORE: NSW Health apologises to Delta Goodrem for 'offensive' COVID-19 post

Some of the things he wants to do include getting matching tattoos with his mates and watch a sunrise with his mum.

Mr Moore also proposed to his girlfriend yesterday.

He's hoping to make their wedding, which is planned for early January.

"That's the one thing I care about. I don't care, I'm doing it," he said.

"I'm just getting it done.

Other things on his bucket list include swimming with dolphins and seeing the Great Barrier Reef.

His advice to others is to get regular heath checks, and don't take days for granted.

A teenage boy has died after he slipped and fell into a lake in Sydney's south-west this afternoon.

New South Wales Police were called to Chipping Norton Lake, near McMillan Park, about 3pm today after being told a 14-year-old had gone missing.

READ MORE: NSW COVID-19 cases reach record high as Omicron makes up majority of infections

Divers and emergency services also attended after the boy failed to resurface.

A boy's body was retrieved from the water around 4.45pm following an extensive search.

It has since been formally identified as the missing 14-year-old boy.

A crime scene was established and police are conducting inquiries.

The heartbroken family of one of the children killed in Tasmania's jumping castle disaster say there are no words for the grief of losing a "fun-loving kid".

Clinging to his school shirt, PlayStation controller and pillow, Zane Mellor's mother and grandfather remembered the determined 12-year-old in front of the growing floral shrine outside of Hillcrest Primary School.

Zane's mother, Georgina Gardam, told 9News they are grappling with their loss.

READ MORE: Floral tributes grow at scene after five children killed in Tasmania jumping castle tragedy identified

"I just needed to say goodbye to my baby," Georgina Gardam said.

"I needed to see what everyone had done, I appreciate it so much."

Ms Gardam said Zane was a "gamer extraordinaire" and admitted Christmas will be hard this year.

"I have all of his Christmas presents. We've opened some of them and just sat them up for him," she said.

"I over-spoiled him but I'm glad I did."

Richard Gardam said his grandson was an animal lover.

"I'm missing him terribly," he said

"He was a fun-loving kid, he loved animals, he was just a gem of a boy."

Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones' mother, Rhianna Goodson, visited the tribute with a photo of the two of them.

It was one of Jalailah's prized possessions.

"She'd sleep with it every night," Ms Goodson said.

"She's one of a kind," she said.

"She was a beautiful, young, unique girl."

The Prime Minister is set to meet privately with the families of the five children killed in a horror jumping castle accident in Tasmania as the country reels from the tragedy just days out from Christmas.

Scott Morrison announced today $800,000 would go towards support for families and communities affected and provide counselling support.

Australia has also rallied behind the Devonport community with an online fundraising page raising more than $1 million for the families.

"We will reach out our arms and we'll throw them around the community of Devonport, and Australia will throw their arms around Tasmania as they seek to console for what has been an unthinkable time," Mr Morrison said.

The money will be paid to Tasmania's primary health network over an 18 month period.

Additional trauma counselling, training for emergency services in trauma, informed care, and psychological first aid will all benefit from the financial assistance.

Mr Morrison said $100,000 will go towards support for schools returning in 2022 along with training and counselling for teachers and staff.

"We know support won't just be needed in the next few weeks, it will be needed for many, many, many months, to try and begin that process of healing," Mr Morrison said.

READ MORE: NSW and Victoria scrap 72 hour isolation period for international arrivals

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein thanked the prime minister for the funding to support the community after the tragedy.

"To the families of the five children who passed away, you know, words can't express the sympathy that I feel, that Tasmanians feel, the outpouring of sympathy right across this country," he said.

Police yesterday identified the five children who died in the jumping castle tragedy.

Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt, all aged 12, and 11-year-old Addison Stewart all died in the accident in Devonport on Thursday.

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There were close to 40 grade five and six students taking part in the end-of-term activities at Hillcrest Primary School when the accident occurred.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said "the majority of those injured were in the jumping castle" when it was lifted by the gust of wind.

Three children are still fighting for their lives at the Royal Hobart Hospital, and one child was this morning discharged from hospital to recover at home.

Hundreds of floral tributes have been left at the school as the community mourns the children's deaths.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.

Kids Helpline offers free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling for young people aged 5 to 25. You can reach them at 1800 55 1800.

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