According to a senior minister, the UK experienced the greatest number of Covid infections since January on Friday, as the government tries to slow the spread of the new type.
Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, said the country is in a “very worrisome situation” as the Omicron variant spreads quickly, with case numbers doubling every two to three days in England.
On Friday, the United Kingdom reported a total of 58,194 cases.
Gove told journalists after meeting with leaders of UK regions, “We know that we have the largest number of Covid infections across the UK documented today since January 9,” when there were 59,937 cases.
He further stated that the Omicron variety is currently responsible for 30% of recorded cases in London, despite the fact that the virus was just discovered in the UK two weeks ago.
“We may be facing — indeed, we may be experiencing — a possible tsunami of illnesses,” Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned.
If the current trend continues, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) predicts that Omicron will become the dominant form in the UK by mid-December, with over one million infections by the end of the month. So far, 1,265 Omicron instances have been confirmed.
In comparison to the Delta version, the UKHSA reported that early examination of about 500 persons confirmed to be infected with Omicron indicated that AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs “gave considerably lower levels of protection against symptomatic illness.”
It indicated that a booster dose significantly increased this protection to 70 to 75 percent, but that such tiny sample numbers should be taken with caution.
With 146,255 deaths from the virus, the UK has one of Europe’s highest death tolls, and mortality rates have not increased in the recent week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson proposed a slew of new limitations on Wednesday, dubbed “Plan B,” including mandatory mask-wearing in museums, theatres, and cinemas from Friday and guidance to work from home beginning Monday.
To enter events in crowded environments like as nightclubs and stadiums, people will need to present Covid passes with proof of two jabs or a lateral flow test starting on Wednesday.
The new restrictions will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons next week, but despite resistance from some Conservatives, they are anticipated to pass.
