Sajid Javid today confirmed that two cases of Omicron Covid variant were reported in Britain.
The Health SecretaryFears of a second Christmas lockdown are growing as the super-strain, which is feared by many, has been reported in Chelmsford (nottingham)
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Javid claimed that two individuals tested positive, and all of their families, are now self isolating.
They are currently being retested and told to self-isolate, while further testing and contact traceing is carried out.
The Health Secretary stated that the cases were being handled by her department. “linked”You can travel to South Africa from where there has been an explosion in cases of the mutant strain.
He said that targeted testing is being done in Britain now, and that travel restrictions would be implemented for Malawi, Mozambique Zambia, Angola, and Zambia.
Sky News interviewed Mr Javid to announce the news today.
“I was told that Omicron has been detected in two cases in the United Kingdom.
“One in Chelmsford, the other in Nottingham.”
He said that Malawi, Mozambique Zambia, Angola and Zambia would be added to Britain’s red list starting Sunday at 4am in an desperate bid to prevent further cases from entering the country.
Travellers returning from these countries within the past 10 days should also get a PCR test.
After senior scientists from the Government warned that the Omicron mutant variant was the culprit, the government finally allowed it to be used. “worst variant they have seen so far” – with vaccines expected to be at least a third less effective against it.
Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist from Imperial College London, suggested the variant. “of real concern” as its 32 mutations in its spike protein could enable it to more easily evade a person’s immune system and spread to more people.
He posted the variant to Twitter. “very, very much should be monitored due to that horrific spike profile”This could make it more infectious than any other variant.
Meanwhile, the variant’s spread has sparked fears a second Christmas lockdown could be on the cards with Prof Adam Finn, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, warning Brits to be “ready for the possibility of a change in the restrictions”.
Boris Johnson will be holding a press conference regarding the matter at 5.30pm this afternoon.
Sajid Javid announced this week that South Africa has identified a new variant. “may be more transmissible”The Delta strain, and additional “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective”.
Officials are trying desperately to locate thousands of people who arrived in South Africa within the last ten days.
Although scientists had previously stated that the new strain of bacteria was unlikely to exist in the UK, with 700 people flying per day, they couldn’t rule it out.
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More to come…
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