Global Covid-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday, as the new Omicron variant raced out of control, keeping workers at home and overwhelming testing centres.

Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day around the world from Dec 22 to Dec 28, with myriad countries posting new all-time highs over the past 24 hours, including the United States, Australia and many European nations.

Almost two years after...