First death from Omicron covid in the UK, Johnson confirms

LONDON, Dec 13: The world's first death from Omicron covid has occurred in the United Kingdom, where it has spread very widely, acounting for almost 40 per cent of all covid infections in London alone.

"Sadly, at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London on Monday. He did not provide any details about the patient. It is not known if the victim had been vaccinated or had comorbidities. Johnson had said earlier that the country was facing a "tidal wave" of infection and needed to speed up booster doses.

Hospital admissions of Omicron patients are on the rise in the country unlike the previous prognosis of the new variant's symptoms being mild. Ten people have been hospitalised with the Omicron variant in various parts of England in the past few days. They were of 18 to 85 years of age and most of them had received the two vaccination doses. More than 146,000 people have died from covid in the United Kingdom so far.

The total number of UK cases of Omicron was 3,137 on Sunday, up by 65 per cent from Saturday's total of 1,898. Saying that boosters have become vital in the new situation, the four chief medical officers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland said, "Vaccine protection against symptomatic disease from Omicron is reduced. Data on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalisations from Omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly."

"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set on one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population," he said. He called upon the people to get the booster doses quickly. And the Government set a target of giving everyone aged 18 and over in England a booster jab by the end of January but Johnson said the date would be brought forward by a month.

The NHS website crashed on Monday after more than 110,000 people tried to book their booster doses, BBC quoted a Government sources.

Additional vaccination sites

The Prime Minister said in a televised address on Sunday, some 42 military planning teams would be deployed across the country. Additional vaccination sites and mobile units will be opened and operate seven days a week.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said from Tuesday fully vaccinated contacts of people who test positive for covid will be required to take daily lateral flow tests for seven days. Those who have not had one or two shots of vaccine will have to self-isolate for 10 days. Vaccine passports will be introduced from Wednesday. The proposals may be made laws on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Johnson is facing growing resentment from the people over his handling of the pandemic as also a slew of scandals, leading to a slide in poll ratings. There is criticism over a sleaze scandal and refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Days after Omicron variant was identified in South Africa on November 25, the UK had reported the first case and soon Israel, Belgium and Hong Kong followed. Currently over 50 countries have cases of the fast-spreading Omicron infection. Several countries have banned international travel to and from the affected countries.