admin
At least one person in the United Kingdom has died after contracting the Omicron variant as officials warn the new coronavirus strain is spreading at a “phenomenal” rate.
As fears of another punishing wave grip the country, Britons in their hundreds have formed queues at vaccine centres to get booster shots, heeding government advice.
“Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters yesterday.
“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus — I think that’s something we need to set on one side — and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population.”
Since the first Omicron cases were detected on November 27 in the UK, Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions.
On Sunday, he urged people to get a third shot to prevent the health service from being overwhelmed as he warned of a “tidal wave” of infections which could overcome even those who are fully vaccinated.
Data released on Friday showed that vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection was substantially reduced against Omicron with just two doses, but a third dose boosted protection up to more than 70 percent.
Parliament is due to vote today on whether to enforce further measures, which include ordering people to work from home, wear masks in public places and use Covid-19 passes for some venues.
“It’s spreading at a phenomenal rate, something that we’ve never seen before, it’s doubling every two to three days in infections,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News yesterday, adding that the new strain accounts for about 40 percent of infections in the capital, London.
“We’re once again in a race between the vaccine and the virus,” he added. — Al Jazeera.
Online Reporter