In pics: Thousands across globe protest against Covid restrictions as govts rush to contain Omicron

Vaccine sceptics and others across the world expressed anger towards their governments for announcing a fresh set of restrictions to contain news infections that is being triggered by the Omicron variant. From US to Bolivia to several nations in Europe, protesters took to the streets to protest against the vaccine mandates as experts and medical workers warn of a surge in infections — particularly among the unvaccinated — that could overwhelm hospitals.     

People march to the Great House of the People presidential residence in La Paz as they protest against decrees that make the COVID-19 vaccination pass compulsory at public spaces, on January 10, 2022. Anti-vaccine activists and people who oppose the compulsory measures demand the abrogation of decrees 4060 and 4061 which state that the COVID-19 vaccination pass is mandatory at public spaces.

On Monday, Bolivia reported a sharp rise in Covid cases, with 8,857 new infections being detected across the country in a single day. On Sunday, the Latin American country recorded 5,333 cases 

Demonstrators gather during a protest against the health pass and Covid-19 vaccines after the call of leader of French nationalist party "Les Patriotes" (The Patriots) Florian Philippot, at Place du Palais-Royal, Paris, on January 8, 2022. France reported close to 94,000 new Covid-19 cases , pushing the seven-day moving average of new infections to a new high of 269,614, official data showed on Monday, the 14th consecutive day seeing the value climbing up.

Police forces stand by as members of the 'Men in Black' movement chant slogans during a protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark, in front of Norreport Station in Copenhagen on January 9, 2022, marking the first anniversary of the anti-vaccination movement.

 A total of 14,414 people tested positive for in Denmark, according to an updated count on Monday. The country's positivity rate stands at 11.48 per cent.

The positivity is close to higher values for the measure recorded in late December and early January as Denmark saw surge in daily case totals with the virus

Demonstrators march with placards and the Czech national flag as they take part in a protest against compulsory vaccination against the COVID-19 in Prague on January 9, 2022, during the ongoing pandemic. Following a deceleration at the end of last year, daily infection rates in Czech Republic have started to grow again in recent days. 

Though case rates in the Czech Republic are relatively low, with the country's seven day average currently at around 6,660 cases, experts have warned of up to 50,000 cases a day due to the rapid spread of Omicron. 

A priest leads a prayer during a protest against the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine pass in the centre of Lebanon's capital Beirut, on January 8, 2022. On Friday, Lebanon registered 7,974 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 761,853. The death toll from the virus also went up by 19 to 9,250 cases.

People hold signs during a protest against COVID-19 vaccine passports and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for children organized by supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro, outside the Pan American Health Organization headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil, on January 4, 2022. On Sunday, Brazil detected 24,382 new cases in the past 24 hours, and 44 deaths from COVID-19.

The head of Brazil's health regulator Anvisa has asked the country's vaccine-sceptic President Jair Bolsonaro to retract statements he made criticising the agency for authorising the vaccination of children against COVID-19.

People demonstrate against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students in Huntington Beach, California on January 3, 2022.  The United States reported 1.35 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest daily total for any country in the world as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing.

The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. A large number of cases are reported each Monday due to many states not reporting over the weekend. The seven-day average for new cases has tripled in two weeks to over 700,000 new infections.