Earlier Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced early indications suggest the Omicron variant of coronavirus is more transmissible than Delta, and Downing Street has said it is still unclear what impact vaccines have against it. Another 101 Omicron COVID variant cases have been recorded in the UK, taking the total across the country to 437.  This …

COVID-19: UK records 101 new Omicron variant cases in past 24 hours taking total to 437 Read More »

The UK’s rules for self-isolation have changed because of the Omicron Covid variant.  Travellers to the UK and suspected contacts of people with Omicron are among those affected. What are the new self-isolation rules? The rules around self-isolation after foreign travel have changed. All over-fives who arrive in the UK (over-11s in Scotland) must self-isolate …

Omicron: What are the Covid self-isolation rules now? Read More »

Home-working, the extension of mandatory face masks and the introduction of COVID vaccine passports are among measures being announced by the PM to try to limit the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. by Greg Heffer Boris Johnson has toughened coronavirus rules in England amid concern over the increasing spread of the Omicron variant. …

COVID-19: Boris Johnson announces Plan B restrictions to combat spread of Omicron variant Read More »

Researchers at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) warn their finding has important public health implications. Thomas Moore – Sky News Omicron has a “substantial” ability to evade immunity from a previous COVID infection, according to the first real-world study of the variant’s effect. The finding suggests the new variant could cause a substantial wave of …

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Experts on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which advises the government, held an extraordinary meeting to consider the new Omicron variant following its detection in South Africa. By Greg Heffer, political reporter and Tamara Cohen, political correspondent The Omicron variant could trigger a surge in COVID infections bigger than previous …

COVID-19: NERVTAG scientists ‘can’t rule out’ Omicron causing biggest wave of infections yet that may overwhelm NHS Read More »

Barry Schoub, an expert from South Africa, says it is “logical” that the prevalence of HIV in the region is linked to the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus. Speaking to Sky News, Prof Schoub also emphasises the links to unvaccinated people. The mutation of the Omicron variant could be down to “reservoirs” …

COVID-19: Emergence of Omicron variant could be down to ‘reservoirs’ of virus in the unvaccinated and immunosuppressed Read More »

The individual, who is no longer in the country, tested positive after travelling to Britain and “is linked to travel to southern Africa”. By Alexa Phillips and Andy Hayes, news reporters  The UK has called an “urgent” meeting of G7 health ministers on Monday to discuss the Omicron COVID variant – after a third infected …

COVID-19: UK calls meeting of G7 health ministers to discuss Omicron variant as third case found in Britain Read More »

Scientists around the globe are concerned the “horrific” number of mutations could make it highly transmissible, more deadly and make coronavirus jabs less effective. A new COVID variant first detected in South Africa is the “most worrying” yet, a leading health expert has said. Scientists around the globe are concerned the “horrific” number of mutations …

Is new COVID variant in UK? Can it defeat vaccines? What we know so far about B.1.1.529 strain found in southern Africa Read More »

Berlin warns it could join its neighbours in closing schools, shops and bars – as Vienna hits out at “radical anti-vaxxers and fake news” after revealing plans for compulsory jabs. Austria is to become the first country in Europe to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory by law and has announced a full national lockdown from Monday, …

COVID-19: Germany may follow Austria into full lockdown as coronavirus cases hit new high Read More »