1st Omicron death in UK

UK PM may introduce more curbs as variant cases cross 3,000

London, Dec. 13: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the UK’s first death from the Omicron variant of Coronavirus, the first known fatality from the highly transmissible variant of Covid-19 in the world. Johnson used the case to highlight the importance of not being complacent that the new variant is milder compared to the currently dominant Delta variant and urged people to get their top-up booster vaccine doses, now being offered to all adults aged 18 and over.

During a visit to a vaccine clinic in west London as part of the Omicron Emergency Boost campaign, Johnson also refused to rule out bringing in further restrictions in the coming days and weeks to control the rapid spread of the variant — which has now crossed over 3,000 cases in the country.

“Sadly yes, Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron,” Johnson said. “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,” he said.

Early data has suggested the new variant, first detected in South Africa, produces only mild symptoms of runny nose, fatigue, headache and sore throat but UK experts have said it could still result in a big rise in hospital admissions due to its sheer rate of transmissibility. Johnson noted that the new variant now accounts for roughly 40 per cent of Coronavirus cases in London alone.

“The risk is plainly there, we can see Omicron spiking now in London and some other parts of the country,” he said.

Asked if he would rule out more lockdown and social distancing measures before Christmas, he said: “We think Plan B, combined with a hugely ambitious acceleration of the booster campaign — we think that’s the right approach.” — PTI

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A man wears a mask while walking in an empty street in the financial district, known as The City, in London, on Monday. While many people will re-start working from home, the British government raised the Coronavirus threat level.

Sadly, at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.