Omicron cases in the UK are on the rise, with 14 Omicron cases reported so far.
Scotland was infected with the mutant variant today, adding to the six that were reported yesterday.
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England has five confirmed cases with three in the capital.
Omicron arrived in the UK less than a week after being identified as a concern by African countries.
Yesterday afternoon, the Health Secretary informed the Commons that there had been six confirmed cases in Scotland and five in England.
“We anticipate cases to increase over the next days.
“The world is witnessing a new variant of the virus – reports have been made in Austria, Belgium and Germany as well as in Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands.
This variant could have given the virus more legs in this race between virus and vaccines.
“Our strategy is to buy time and strengthen defences while scientists learn more.”
🔵 Check out our Omicron live blog to get the most current news
Jenny Harries, chief of the UK Health Security Agency said that there were 10 more “highly likely” cases.
However, she said there aren’t signs yet of a surge and no signs that there will be an increase in. “S-gene target failure”Omicron is a member of Omicron that conducts PCR tests in Britain.
Humza Yousaf from Scotland, the Health Secretary, stated that five cases are currently in the Lanarkshire and four in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This is in addition to the six announced Monday.
He answered BBC Good Morning Scotland when asked if there was a connection between Cop26 and the recent South Africa rugby game. “There’s nothing that links these cases or indeed the variant back to Cop26 or indeed the rugby match.”
He also added: “There’s nothing that indicates these cases or this new variant has come via the rugby or Cop26 but that work of course is still ongoing .”
Nicola Sturgeon said Scots should work from home immediately, sparking worries England could follow suit.
Yesterday afternoon, there were two more London cases – one from Camden and one from Wandsworth. Both have been linked to travel to Southern Africa.
To beat the spread, Brits who fail to wear a mask in shops and on public transport face a maximum fine of £6,400 from today.
Penalties of £200 will be handed to people in England who don’t wear a face covering under new Government rules to crack down on the Omicron Covid variant.
It comes as another Christmas lockdown hasn’t been ruled out as a last resort to tackle Omicron – as Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted we must “learn to live”Covid.
Brits have been urged to get their third jabs and start self-testing regularly to help avoid further restrictions over the festive period.
As well as shops, buses trains and trams, masks must also be worn in hairdressers, nail salons, banks and post offices in England under new curbs from 4am.
Masks will not be required in the hospitality industry.
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said: “We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.
“Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant – please get your first, second or booster jab without delay.
“It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focussed contact tracing. That’s why it’s critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.”
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Professor Adam Finn, a member the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI), stated that it is now a “time for caution”As he encouraged people to do “anything that they can do to reduce the risk”Covid-19 is a possible catch.
Sky News was told by him: “”It is important to remain at home during this time to keep away from others to help you get through the difficult times.
“Asked about Christmas, he added: “Yes, we won’t cancel Christmas again.
“But in the build up to Christmas the more we can keep a watchful eye open for this virus we reduce the risk of getting exposed to it.”
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