So it spread but it was harder for it to spread. When Delta arrived in the UK, we were in lockdown. “I think we do need to do something to get transmission down now and ramp up our testing and contact-tracing abilities. “If we can keep it out until after the Christmas break then we’ve bypassed a massive mixing opportunity,” she said. Prof Christina Pagel, the director of University College London’s clinical operational research unit and a member of the Independent Sage group of experts, said delaying the import of Omicron to the UK would be beneficial. But he added that, because Omicron has been identified at a far earlier stage than the now-dominant Delta variant, “there might be some hope for some amount of containment or that time-buying phase to be longer”. Prof Sharon Peacock of the University of Cambridge, the director of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium, said: “Once a new variant emerges and it is fitter than previous variants it can be difficult to stop it going into a country unless you have very stringent lockdown rules.”ĭr Jeffrey Barrett, the director of the Covid-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, agreed it was “probably right that it’s a case of buying time because of past experience”. The British Airways owner, IAG, ended the day nearly 15% lower, while Rolls-Royce slumped more than 11%.Īs the UK recorded 50,091 daily Covid cases and 160 more coronavirus-related deaths on Friday – the highest level in a month – scientists said it was highly likely the variant would come to the UK, risking a surge in cases. The FTSE 100 had its worst day since June 2020, closing down 3.6%, with £72bn wiped off the index. South Africa said it was “ unjustified” for other countries to impose travel bans and Boris Johnson held a call with the country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to discuss the restrictions. The US and Canada also brought in travel curbs on Friday night. The EU agreed there was a need to suspend flights from countries in southern Africa following restrictions announced by countries including the UK, Japan, Germany, Italy and Spain. Non-UK and non-Irish nationals from those countries will be banned, while people arriving in England before 4am on Sunday will have to take PCR tests and quarantine at home. Thousands of UK nationals face paying thousands of pounds for mandatory hotel quarantine on their return from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia after Sunday. With scientists still unsure whether Omicron poses a greater danger than other variants, further developments include: However, he said he believed the public would overall be responsive “provided you are clear with people what the logic is, provided they feel that we’re being entirely straight with them as to all the data”. “If we need to do something more muscular at some point, whether it’s for the current new variant or at some later stage, can we still take people with us?” Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said it was his “greatest worry” that people may not abide by a return to restrictions after almost two years of the pandemic. Javid said on Friday there was no change yet, but added: “If we need to go further, we will.” If we need to do something more muscular at a later stage, can we still take people with us? Chris Whitty But Labour called on ministers to bring forward booster jabs by a month for over-50s to create a five-month gap and demanded an update on when under-40s can expect approval for their third vaccinations.ĭiscussions are live within government over what would trigger a move to “plan B” including mandatory mask wearing, working from home, Covid passports and other measures. No 10 is still debating further steps to prevent or delay its arrival. Experts predict it is only a matter of time before it reaches Britain. Belgium reported a case in a traveller who had been in Egypt and Turkey rather than southern Africa, suggesting community transmission, while cases were also detected in Israel and Hong Kong.
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