Third Omicron case detected in UK, face masks obligatory from Tuesday

A 3rd case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected within the UK, the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) mentioned on Sunday.
The newest case, like the 2 others, is linked to journey to southern Africa, the place the variant was recognized, however the person is now not within the UK.
However, the UKHSA revealed that the person frolicked within the Westminster space of central London earlier than departure and likewise warned that it’s “very likely” extra circumstances of the brand new doubtlessly extremely infectious variant will likely be detected over the approaching days on account of “focussed contact tracing”.
The UKHSA data got here quickly after the UK authorities had introduced that face coverings will change into a obligatory requirement in retailers and public transport in England from Tuesday, as a part of the tighter COVID-19 curbs being enforced in response to 2 circumstances of the brand new Omicron variant detected within the nation.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid mentioned the requirement of obligatory PCR checks to be taken by all abroad arrivals into the UK can even be enforced “as soon as possible”. The minister asserted that he expects all the brand new measures, being launched to provide scientists extra time to analyse the infectiousness and vaccine-resistance ranges of Omicron, to be lifted once more “within weeks”.
“The reason we’ve set out these measures yesterday is to protect the progress we’ve made so we can all continue to enjoy Christmas with our families,” mentioned Javid, just about British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of the stricter curbs from Downing Street on Saturday night.
“This is about protecting the progress we’ve made… But it’s important to react in a proportionate, and also a temporary way, I hope this is something we can remove within weeks,” he mentioned.
In different components of the United Kingdom – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – face coverings are already necessary on public transport and lots of indoor settings. The Opposition Labour Party has expressed concern that the brand new guidelines don’t go far sufficient to impose the federal government’s so-called “Plan B”, which might see make money working from home instructions and vaccine passports for venues.
“If one was to make decisions like that they’d have to be made very, very carefully, we’re not there yet, we’re nowhere near that,” Javid informed Sky News.

The new measures have raised fears over one other locked down Christmas however each Johnson and Javid have sought to downplay these worries and insisted the 2021 festive interval can be higher than 2020.
“People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas,” mentioned Javid.
The Omicron variant, feared to unfold quicker and partially scale back vaccine safety, was recognized in South Africa earlier this week and classed as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since then circumstances have been detected in Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong, and in Europe in addition to the 2 circumstances in England. Both UK circumstances have been linked to journey in southern Africa, and focused testing is deliberate within the surrounding areas of south and central England the place the variant was detected.
“It’s more vital than ever that people get their jabs, and we get those boosters into arms as fast as possible,” Johnson mentioned on Saturday, as he introduced a plan to “boost the booster campaign”.
“We are already planning to do 6 million jabs in England alone over the next three weeks. And now we are looking to go further, so the Health Secretary has asked the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) to consider giving boosters to as wide a group as possible, as well as reducing the gap between your second dose and your booster,” he mentioned.
“We don’t yet exactly know how effective our vaccines will be against Omicron, but we have good reasons for believing they will provide at least some measure of protection. And if you are boosted – your response is likely to be stronger,” he added.

Meanwhile, the UK has banned air journey from 10 nations now – Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Besides, anybody who enters the UK from overseas will now be required to take a PCR check and self-isolate till they get a adverse outcome. And those that come into contact with somebody who checks constructive for the Omicron variant might want to self-isolate for 10 days – even when they’re totally vaccinated.

The new variant is taken into account doubtlessly extra harmful as a result of it has round twice as many mutations because the extremely transmissible Delta variant, but it surely might take weeks for scientists to completely perceive the variant’s mutations and whether or not current vaccines and coverings are efficient towards it.
Meanwhile, the UK registered a slight drop in its each day coronavirus an infection charge, with 39,567 circumstances and 131 COVID deaths recorded on Saturday.