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The UK’s Well being Minister on Monday advised Parliament that the brand new Omicron variant of Covid-19 is now in transmission throughout the group throughout areas of England, as he confirmed a complete of 336 circumstances of the mutation first detected in South Africa.
Based on the newest information, there at the moment are 261 circumstances in England, 71 in Scotland and 4 in Wales, bringing the entire variety of confirmed circumstances throughout the UK to 336, Sajid Javid stated in his assertion to the Home of Commons.
“This consists of circumstances with no hyperlinks to worldwide journey. So, we are able to conclude that there’s now group transmission throughout a number of areas of England,” he stated.
Nigeria in UK’s crimson listing
The minister knowledgeable Parliament concerning the addition of Nigeria to the UK’s crimson listing journey ban and pre-departure PCR or lateral move checks for anybody travelling to the nation beginning Tuesday.
“We’re leaving nothing to likelihood. Our technique is to purchase ourselves time and strengthen our defences whereas our world-leading scientists assess this new variant and what it means for our struggle in opposition to Covid-19,” he stated.
Javid additionally up to date the Commons on beforehand launched information from the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) about latest scientific evaluation which means that the window of an infection could also be shorter for Omicron than for the Delta variant.
Nevertheless, he stated that there isn’t a “clear image” on whether or not the variant causes extra extreme illness or how it’s impacted by the present vaccines being administered for Covid-19.
“And so we are able to’t say for sure, at this level, whether or not Omicron has the potential to knock us off our street to restoration,” stated Javid.
From 4 am native time on Tuesday, anybody travelling to the UK from a non-red listing nation, whether or not vaccinated or not, should present proof of a damaging PCR or lateral move check taken no sooner than 48 hours earlier than departing for the UK.
Javid stated that the brand new measures, which additionally embrace each traveller having a Day 2 PCR check and isolating till getting a damaging outcome, are momentary and might be reviewed subsequent week.
Consultants have stated there’s rising concern Omicron is spreading extra shortly than the Delta variant, presently the predominant variant within the UK.
Professor Paul Hunter from the Faculty of Medication on the College of East Anglia stated the early indicators present that the Omicron variant “will most likely unfold fairly shortly”.
“And possibly begin outcompeting Delta and develop into the dominant variant most likely throughout the subsequent weeks or a month or so at the very least,” he advised the BBC.
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